NEW LAND HOLDERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 141, 17 June 1930, Page 5

NEW LAND HOLDERS.

GOVERNMENT'S RECORD.

GROUP SETTLEMENT SUGGESTED.

In a message to the New Zealand Land Settlement and Development League vesterday, the Minister ot Lands the Hon. E. A. Ransom, stated that 4bt> new rural sections, the majority consisting of previously unselected Crown land, had been disposed of by the Lands Department since the present Government took office. . , "An impression appears to exist throughout the Auckland district that the Government is concentrating on the purchase of private estates, but this is not the case," stated the Minister. Purchase* are proceeding in the more 01 iW Improved districts in accordance with the Government's policy to provide closer settlement, but a great deal ot attention is being given to the question of developing: our idle Grown land, with respect to which 90 per cent advances up to £l°so may now be made. The Lands Development Board is at present considering the reports of the several advisorv committees, and it is expected that many additional sections will be offered I in the near future. "As vou are aware, development work prior to subdivision and selection is in progress on Crown blocks in the Atiamuri and Te Kauwhata districts, and the question of extending operations to other blocks is receiving the attention of the Lands Development Board. "I mav state also that during the comino- session of Parliament consideration will be given to the question of introducing legislation to permit of the introduction of a system of group settlement."