LAND SETTLEMENT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 83, 8 April 1930, Page 19

LAND SETTLEMENT.

GOVERNMENT ACTIVITIES. BREAKING IN UNDEVELOPED AREAS. ASSISTING THE SETTLERS. Since the passing of the Land Laws Amendment Act 1929, in November last, the Lands Department has accomplished a great deal of work in the direction of putting into operation a policy of land settlement. Since early in January, three committees have been operating actively,in the North and South Auckland districts, and have carried out a number of important inspections. Committees are also being appointed in other districts. Their duties are briefly as follows;—(1) To inspect all Crown lands in their districts with a; view to determining what particular areas are suitable for settlement, and with respect to such areas to advise—(a) Whether such lands should be partially developed by the Crown prior to offering it for selection; or (b) whether such lands should be subdivided and roaded by the Crown, and thereafter offered for selection on terms providing that advances be made out of the Land Development Fund to approved s-ettlers to enable them to effect the necessary improvements. Advances to be made up to ninety per cent of the value of improvements, but not to exceed f 12;iO in the case of any one selector. (It should be noted that it is not proposed to make advances for the purchase of stock, but to confine operations to the granting of loans for improvements); (2) to advise generally as to how development should proceod, and to furnish opinions of minimum and maximum areas of proposed sections into which the block under report might be subdivided; and (3) to report generally on any particular matter referred to by the Lands Development Board. Development Work Commenced. The development has been commenced by the Crown of an area at Te Kau\yhata in the Waikato, and a block of eome 2200 acres of pumice land about fourteen miles from Eotorua.. This work is under the direction of expert efficers of the Department of Agriculture. Other blocks are being inspected with a view to development work being carried out on areas suitable for the purpose. Funds for the roading of the various blocks dealt with will be found from the Lands Development Fund, and it is intended as far as possible to provide road facilities ahead of settlement. With regard to undeveloped areas generally and those comprising pumice land particularly, it is not proposed that all blocks suitable for settlement shall be either wholly or partially developed by the Crown prior to their being offered for selection. It is intended to throw open a large number of sections to meet the immediate demand, and to give applicants an opportunity of establishing an asset by their own labour. These lands will be made available at the earliest possible date. Assistance to Settlers. Regulations have been issued and application forms printed, and the Department is now in a position to deal with applications by settlers for advances for development purposes. Settlers taking up unimproved sections will be assisted by means of advances as improvements are effected, and wr'll also receive advice and instruction to aid them in achieving success. It will be possible also for Crown tenants occupying land coming under the designation of unimproved to apply to the Lands Development Board for advances for improvements. Some 38 applications for assistance amounting to £23,335 have already been received, and it is expected that this number will increase very considerably as undeveloped sections are taken up from time to time. A preliminary list of undeveloped Crown sections available for selection has already been distributed throughout the Dominion and further lists will follow from time to time. The work of making all suitable lands remaining in the hands of the Crown available for selection has generally been speeded up a great deal. Survey parties have been increased where required, and road location and engineering works actively put in hand where extensive roading is necessary. Aim at Greater Production. While it is intended ta utilise the provisions of the Land Lawe Amendment Act, 1929, for the development and settlement of idle Crown lands in all suitable cases, it is at the same time proposed to proceed with the purchase of private estates that can be acquired, at prices allowing for successful occupancy under subdivieion, and this particular matter has received the close attention of the Dominion Land Purchase Board. Since the Government came into office some 955 offere of properties' have been received, the bulk of which have been disposed of in various ways. In the majority of cases inspections have been made, but a number of offere were so obviously unsuitable that inspections of the properties concerned were not arranged. In all some 545 inspections have been made, and 664 offers deoliaed. The number of properties .purchased is 33, comprising an area of 53,840 acres, and involving a total purchase price of £564,089. The total number of subdivisions to be provided for closer settlement is approximately 154. Seven of the purchases mentioned were arranged under the group settlement system, the area of the properties concerned totalling 2233 acres, the purchase price £66,240, and the number of subdivisions 24. There are also at the present . time several other properties which are under consideration. The Land' Purchase Board is confident that the purchases eo far made are sound with regard to price, quality and general adaptability. Subdivision of Properties. Eleven of the purchased properties have already been offered for selection, particulars being as follows: Moanaroa settlement of three sections, 997 acres (grain and mixed farming); Welburn, six sections, 565 acres (dairying); Rockford, four sections, 1737 acres (dairying and mixed; Murrayfield, two sections, 1076 acres (mixed); Tamatea, seven sections, 977 acres (dairying); Brinklands, three sections, 1120 acres (mixed); Aponga, six sections, 3660 acres (grazing) ; Fernhill, five sections, 1495 acres (dairying); Brydone, two sections, 355 acres (grazing); Raupo, four sections, 907 acres (dairying); Wilden, 13 sections, 24,005 acres (grazing and mixed). The following properties have been subdivided and advertised and are being balloted for soon: Tapanui, nine sections, 1497 acres (dairying, cropping and grazing); Roseberry, 15 sections, 3912 acres (mixed farming); Clunes, eight sections, 426 acres (mixed farming).

Other Activities. The usual settlement activities of the Department have proceeded as before, and the ordinary requirements of land settlement have been met by the offering of Crown lands in various districts. During the fifteen months ended on February 28 last some 468,915 acres of Crown lands (all tenures) were selected in 2212 subdivisions. These selections were divided between permanent and temporary tenures as under: — No. of Total area holdings, (acres). •Permanent tenures .. 1536 387,422 Temporary tenures .. 670 51.493 2212 405,t>15 The total includes 190,000 acres of pastoral runs selected on pastoral license. During the same fifteen months Borne 358 tenants holding Crown sections on lease or license acquired the.fee simple of their farms. The total purchase money on the granting of freehold title amounted to over £113,000. Tenants on acquiring the freehold are no longer shown on the Department's books, and are subtracted from the total number of lessees holding lands from the Crown.