DEMAND FOR LAND.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 117, 20 May 1933, Page 7

DEMAND FOR LAND.

SETTLEMENT WORK

275 NEW DAIRY FARMS.

MINISTER'S STATEMENT,

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.)

WELLINGTON, this day

Though the immediate outlook for the farmer is not encouraging, there are several phases of land development proceeding steadily, and the demand for developed areas is quite keen. A number of points supporting these conclusions were secured from the Hon. E. A. Ran-

soin, Minister of Lands; in an interview j | which followed a meeting of the Lands j | Development Board.

Small Farms Scheme. Not only is this board continuing work which it has had in hand for several years, but there is the small farms settlement scheme in active operation, and both are contributing to the extension of land occupation. The Lands Development Board has been operating on eleven blocks, aggregating 78,000 acres, of which 12,000 acres are in grass, and 13,000 acres, in various stages of development. Under this legislation, advances can be made by the State to farmers who wish to carry out improvements to increase productivity, .and in the North Auckland district alone, 175 farmers have had advances, which are made progressively as tlie improvements are being carried out. "This phase of the work of the board" commented Mr. Ransom, "has enabled a number of farmers to make good, and has also brought back into production some of our abandoned farms."

The Lands Development Board had this week to consider plans for the utilisation of 842 acres in the Wangamarino Block, nearly all of which is now under grass. It was decided that- the best'policy will be to immediately road the block in preparation for subdivision, and to run cattle on the property in order to consolidate the pasture'. Then next year when settlers are ready to take up the areas, they will be able to secure heifers which have been grazing on the property.

"The expenditure of the Lands Development Board to date," explained the Minister, "has been £272,000 and it has enabled a thousand men to be employed in roading and other developmental work. And when the work in hand is complete, 27a new dairy farms will have been provided."

The Minister was asked if there is a real demand for land under present conditions. "He replied without hesitation that the demand is keen, quoting in proof the fact that for 51 partly developed holdings, the applicants have totalled 539. But when the Board offered an unimproved block for settlement, though it was roaded, nobody wanted it.

These details of land settlement are all outside the scope of the small farms settlement scheme, which is also being vigorously pursued.