DEVELOPMENT OF LAND

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27148, 18 September 1953, Page 6

DEVELOPMENT OF LAND

1705 SOLDIERS STILL NEEDING FARMS GOVERNMENT PREPARING 400,000 ACRES (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, September 16. Although up to March 31, 1953, a total of 2706 former servicemen had been established on farms by the department, there were then, according to the Rehabilitation* Department, still 1705 graded and eligible former servicemen waiting to be settled, says the annual report of the Department of Lands and Survey, tabled in the House of Representatives today. “This illustrates the need to continue land development to a,, maximum efficient degree, to provide the greatest possible contribution to the rehabilitation land pool.’’ the report says. Last year the Land Settlement Board settled 300 men. The department is now working on about 400,000 acres, estimated to yield more than. 1000 farming units, but soipe of the blocks are marginal country of involve special, problems, such as long-teraP drainage, and they will not be available in time to be con* sidered as part' of the rehabilitation project, the report says. During the year a further 40,000 acres was brought into grass from an unproductive state. The development programme continued to absorb large quantities of materials, the most important being 1100 tons of fencing wire. 384,000 posts, 776,000 feet of water piping, 1,430.0001 b of grass seed, 32,000 tons of superphosphate, and 25,000 tons of lime. Roading construction carried out by the Ministry of Works for the department for access purposes totalled 87 miles of formation and 102 miles of metalling. Provision of Housing

The report says the provision of living accommodation for new settlers continues to present a problem, and various methods have been adopted to solve it. Without “part houses,” settlement would be delayed. Wherever possible, the department still erects the full house, but it has to pay due regard to costs. A total of 194 houses and part houses were, completed during thp year.

On June 30, 1953. the department carried on blocks under development 360.157 sheep, 12,213 dairy cattle, and 57.888 run cattle. The combined farm trading account returned a profit of £688,627 13s for the year. The report says that the kea is still a menace to the high-country farmers’ flocks, and its destruction is necessary. Rabbits were a serious problem in the past, but good work is being accomplished to eradicate them.

• During the year, there was an increasing flow of applications for assistance under the Marginal Lands Act. “The district which has registered the greatest interest to date is Northland, and the brisk response to the legislation in this district is evidence of its need, and it is doing much to enable the very great potential existing in the north to be developed,” the report says. “The personal factor continues to be the most important feature in considering loan propositions, and in this respect marginal lands committees had done an excellent job in assessing the ability of applicants to handle development work required of them. Results to date have shown that their confidence in the man, where other, factors have perhaps been doubtful, has seldom been misplaced.” Marginal Lands Advances Up to the end of March, 1953, 337 applications for marginal lands advances had been received, of which 138 are still under consideration by the various committees. Eighty-five were approved, 70 declined, and 44 withdrawn. Advances authorised totalled £281,060. A decline in the kauri gum industry is recorded in the report. It says the decline can be-attributed to three factors; uncertainty of the trade; poor quality and lower-grade gums being received from the diggers; and the use of substitute synthetic gums. Only about 15 families, representing 30 diggers, worked Crown land on a fulltime basis during the year. In the previous year, 25 families, representing 50 diggers, were working.