SETTLEMENT OF LAND

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 24021, 9 August 1943, Page 3

SETTLEMENT OF LAND

WAIKATO EXPERIMENT SUCCESSFUL OPERATION OF SCHEME A resolution was carried unanimqusly at a recent meeting of the directors of the Waikato Land Settlement Society recommending the Government Small Farms Board, which administers the land originally purchased by the society, to apply land unallocated after providing for present commitments to returning soldier settlers on the same terms and conditions as applied to the society s The Government has adopted the recommendation. The chairman of the society (Mr D V. Bryant) estimated that the area affected amounted to 3500 acres. ' ... After its foundation the society purchased 8000 acres of depreciated land and brought it into production. The land was sold to settlers at its productive value, plus cost of buildings, stock, fencing, etc. The agreement of sale and purchase was made and the advances were further secured by a stock mortgage. The total advance was placed on a table mortgage basis. The tenure is of a “limited” freehold. Before resale the consent of the authorities must be obtained. No speculation in land values is allowed, and if land is sold it must be bought back at its productive value, plus permanent improvements, less depreciation. , ’ The society sprang out of the needs of the depression years, when the only land development plan for those out of work was the 10-acre scheme, said Mr Bryant. The sum of £27,000 was collected as a nucleus fund; AH the prospective settlers were out of work, and the Government of the day allowed payment from the unemployment fund during the development period. The society set to work to house its settlers and, as soon as subdivisional plans could be made, erected houses. Thus homes with gardens grew as development proceeded, still on unemployment pay. In 1937 the final stage was reached, and sections were allocated to the first individual settlers, while a further number were almost ready for hiving off. Most of the present settlers have been on the land from three to six years and had “proved themselves 100 per cent.” They had greatly enhanced the value of their district; and they had indirectly assisted in solving the unemployment question. It was estimated that every successful farmer gave employment to one and a half persons indirectly. . In 1938 the directors of the society, impressed with the work of the Small Farms Board in opening up the King Country, asked the Government to take over the society’s administration. The Government agreed, undertaking that the policy of the society would be carried out in its entirety, and that the society should remain intact in an advisory capacity. Mr Bryant states that the plan has worked admirably. No suggestion of the society has been turned down by the Government,, nor has the policy been repudiated in any respect. At the time of handing over, £31,000 had been paid from the Unemployment Fund. “It is to be noted in regard to this that the money would otherwise have been spent on unproductive work, and that a much greater sum was actually handed over in land and under agreement with the title deeds,” said Mr Bryant. The necessary legislation has been passed as required, and, in particular, the new tenure, that of a restricted freehold, has been legalised. One of the chief reasons of success by the settlers, in Mr Bryant’s opinion, is to be found in the incentive given of redeeming the whole of the debt to the Government, and many of them have already paid more than the amount provided for by their sinking fund.