ORAKEI AND HUTT SETTLEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 165, 14 July 1928, Page 8

ORAKEI AND HUTT SETTLEMENTS.

In the report of the debate on the Addre>?-in-Reply which appeared in Saturday's "Star" there is a remarkable revelation of the Reform Government's land policy.' .The Government, according to Mr. McLeod, has paid lialf a million for the Hutt and Orakei estates, or is it for the Orakei estate alone (the statement does not make this quite clear) It has spent another half-million on development. This statement provides an explanation as to why some home seekers "who desired money from, the State Advances Department have been disappointed, as well as why it? has been hard foe the farmer to get money for land development or for the settlement of new land. Would it be too much to ask one of our Auckland representatives to try to get a return as to who got the half-million and what the equity was for which it was paid? It raises this further question: Was the advances to settlers legislation ever intended to provide money for the man who could pay £1500 for a section, as has been paid for ail Orakei section? It is interesting to note that a million pounds at five per cent for thirty-six years at compound interest amounts to £5,791.816. Does Mr. McLeod honestly think he can get that amount at the rate and price at which the sections are being sold?

JOELS" S. FLETCHER-