CROWN LAND FOR SETTLEMENT

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27010, 9 April 1953, Page 8

CROWN LAND FOR SETTLEMENT

Half To Be Offered To Civilians ANNOUNCEMENT BY MR CORBETT (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, April 8. Half the land held by the Crown and available for general settlement is to be offered to civilian settlers. The Minister of Lands (Mr E. B. Corbett), who announced this decision tonight, said that it marked the begining of the Government’s civilian land settlement scheme. The rights of returned servicemen would remain fully protected, he said. He added that the introduction of civilian settlement was possible only because of the splendid progress made with rehabilitation settlement. Land 'acquired specifically for the settlement of former servicemen and Crown land being developed for that purpose would continue to be offered exclusively for settlement by eligible and graded former servicemen of World War 11, said Mr Corbett. Land in this category not selected by these men would be offered to graded and eligible men from K Force. The land available for general settlement other than the 50 per cent, to be offered to civilians was to be made available in the following order of preference:— First preference: Eligible and graded former servicemen of World War 11. Second preference: Eligible and graded former servicemen of K Force. Third preference: Other former servicemen within the meaning of the Rehabilitation Act, the Emergency Forces Regulations, or other similar legislation. Fourth preference: Civilians.

Mr Corbett said that since the inception of the rehabilitation scheme 11,268 men had been -settled on the land. A total of 1777 graded former servicemen of World War II still awaited settlement, 754 being graded “A” for sheep, 945 “A” for dairying, and 78 “A” for other types of farming.

In the Lands Department’s development schemes there was, a total of 455.233 acres, said Mr Corbett. “Settlement of former servicemen eligible for dairy farms is m sight,” the Minister added. “Because of the physical difficulties alone, the position of those waiting for sheep farms is not so encouraging, but every effort is being made, through an accelerated development programme, to satisfy the ambition of these men to own their own properties. The-time is ripe for the introduction of civilian settlement, as the Government promised when former servicemen settlement needs were largely satisfied.”