MO CONFLICT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 98, 28 April 1930, Page 5

MO CONFLICT.

CROWN LAND IMPROVEMENT. GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE. STATE ADVANCES DEPARTMENT. (B.y Telegraph.—Own Conesponi'.enL) WELLINGTON, Sunday. In reference to the financing of improvements on undeveloped Crown lands a further statement was made yesterday by the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. E. A. Ransom, who mentioned that one question raised was the possibility of competition against / the existing facilities of the State Advances Department. The two methods, he said, did not conflict. The scheme did not contemplate making advances in respect to improvements already carried out, but it was intended to encourage the bringing into productivity of undeveloped land. Under the amending legislation of last session any Crown tenant who had just selected entirely unimproved Crown or settlement land, or any Crown tenant who had still such an area of undeveloped land in his holding as could, in the opinion of the Land Development Board be classed as "undeveloped land," might be granted an advance out of the land for settlement fund. These advances were to be for improvements to be effected, such as fencing, breaking in land, buildings, drainage, etc., 'and should be 90 per cent, of the estimated cost, but not exceeding £1250 in all. Progress payments would be made as the improvements were carried out. "Obviously," said the Minister, "the State Advances Office could not make advances in such cases as it requires a security to be in existence for its loan, but the Lands Development Board does not require to have permanent improvements effected before it will authorise an advance, as it only lends for the purpose of encouraging the making of entirely new improvements."