MORE SETTLERS PLACED

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21247, 20 August 1934, Page 10

MORE SETTLERS PLACED

ACTIVITIES OF I,\NI) I) WARTIME.NT i EX!'l;Ni)rn KI; o\ S.M.M.I. J\KM sen r;M?-: Our I'arhaincnUu y IU-p<u (or. J V/ELLINGTCIN. August If). Steady progress in the land settlement. activities of the Lands Department is shown in a statement made yesterday by the Minister for Lands (tho Hon. Hansom). The Minister said that among ils many act ivit ies, ;he Department, during the last three years, had made a substantial contribution to a closer settlement policy of the Government. in that period, which had not been particularly favourable for land settlement, extension. It had placed on the land 2381 settlers, resulting in an increase of 1747 in the number of individual producers. In other words, 73 per cent, of those settled in that period took up land which was not previously held in separate holdings, and which for the most part was unproductive, or was producing to a very limited extent. "As an additional activity of the Department, the development of unimproved Crown land was enacted in 192!'. and . during the last three years £.332,346 has been expended m that said the Minislor. "Ihe principle of developing land before settlement was extended by the enactment of tho Small Farms (Relief of Unemployment) Act, 1932-33. and expenditure under this legislation to date is •£ 478,366. "Summarised, the expenditure on land development and under the small farm scheme during the period of three years ended July 31 1934, is as follows: i Land purchased lor ordinary settlement .. 15L5C4 Cost of development under Land Act .. .. 332,346' -loans to holders of unim- ! proved Crown land .. 195,373! Expenditure under small j farm scheme 47a.366 j < 1,157.649; 1000 A lore .Sections "At present the department is ; ieveloping about IOO.dOO acres of land which was previously unimproved, or was producing only to a <w.v small extent, and it i:, anticipated that this area will make available for settlement under the Land Act about 300 sections and under he small farm plan about 700 sections, or a. total of approximate!v 100(1 sections. It will be seen, thereore, that notwithstanding the now limited area of Crown land available, and the difficult economic conditions through which the Dominion is passing, steady progress is aeing maintained in giving effect ;o the Government's policy of closer ;ettlement. At the same time, the department is providing reproducive work for many men, and by j :onfining development operations i o marginal lands of lighter type, I vhich respond readily to top-dress- | ng. it is in a position, with the j issistance of unemployment funds. ! ' o offer from time to time improved: arms at a charge consistent with [ he ruling prices for produce," i