SOLDIER SETTLEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 221, 18 September 1930, Page 9

SOLDIER SETTLEMENTS.

4500 MEN ON THE LAND.

294 MIIXION ACRES OCCUPIED.

ABANDONED FARMS FOR SALE

(By ■ T6lDgrap.il.—Parliamentary Reporter.)

■WELLINGTON, Wednesday.

■/The'financial section of the Discharged Soldiers' Settlement report; shows a loss of £301i861 on last year's operations: This , is': composed chiefly of capital losses re'suitilig . fi'bm , the sale of abandoned properties, • and- by-"•-further reductions of.! mortgages and remissions; of'interest granted by the Dominion .Revaluation Boardl" These total £279,913.

is still experienced in disposing of abandoned farms and houses in'some localities, and as at.the end of

the year many properties were on hand for disposal further losses can be anticipated, as the. values shown represent considerable reductions on book' figures. The Department- announces that it continues to hold abandoned far.ms for sale at very reasonable prices, and in case of those properties which. have been allowed to deteriorate, or for other causes do not appear to attract settlers, it is willing to offer substantial concessions to suitable applicants who can be expected to work the farms, in a proper mannev

Reports from various districts, are jenerally in an optimistic, vein, as the !&j\ in prices has to a , considerable ex;ent been offset by increased production, jorabineel with improved methods of pasture treatment, and herd-testing.* Despite the writing-down of capital and the abandonment of holdings, the report shows that the scheme has provided for 45.00 discharged men, who are farming -2,796,348 acres.',' ' .