SETTLEMENT ON FARMS

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27307, 25 March 1954, Page 12

SETTLEMENT ON FARMS

DEVELOPMENT OF STATE SCHEME

PROGRESS REVIEWED .BY MR CORBETT

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, March 24. New elements in the Government’s policy on the settlement of civilian as well as former servicemen farmers were anhounced by the Minister of Lands (Mr E. B. Corbett) in a review today of the Government’s land development schemes. The Minister said that an area of about 470,000 acres was now under development. The area was estimated to provide more than 1000 farms.

Since the inception of rehabilitation in 1943, 2830 former servicemen had been established on farms, the area of which totalled 1,098,953 acres, and up to the end of December last the present Government had settled 1229 former servicemen on farms with a total area of 492.317 acres.

Mr Corbett said that in the first four years of the Government’s administration, land totalling 274,634 acres had been bought for former servicemen settlement, 32,127 acres had been acquired compulsorily under the Servicemen’s Settlement Act, 1950, 219,679 acres of Crown land had been made available for farming, and 102.677 acres had been purchased for general settlement. The estimated number of units the total area, 629,677 acres, would yield was 1562.

In addition, 79 former servicemen were substituted for civilian purchasers in terms of the Servicemen’s Settlement Act, which expired on June 30. 1952. the area of those properties being 17.390 acres. “The Government, through the Land Settlement Board, has recently embarked on a policy of offering farms which are partially improved—grassed and ring fenced and with a permanent supply of water,” he added. “Fifty-four of these farms have been offered and selected.” Civilian Settlement Mr Corbett said the Government appreciated that the time was fast approaching when the needs of former servicemen, particularly those graded for dairying, would be largely satisfied, and it was therefore turning its attention to the settlement of civilians. Although land would continue to be purchased and developed for the settlement of grade A former servicemen so long as there was the need, the Government had made a start with the settlement of civilians with the introduction of a general land settlement scheme, said Mr Corbett. Under the scheme the first offering of 27 sections was held last month. About half the sections were made available to civilians and half to former servicemen in order of preference. The units had been grassed and ring fenced and supplied with part house living accommodation.

“Further sections will be offered as they can be spared from the main exservicemen settlement scheme,” said the Minister. Civilian interests had demonstrated their keenness in the offerings, he said.

Civilian farmers had taken up most of the undeveloped farm mjits offered m the last two years, and the Government, following its policy of encouraging the individual to develop his own property and build up an equity m the land, had embarked on a plan of offering large undeveloped areas for full development and subsequent subdivision by private individuals.

Conditions of Use “Under this scheme the successful applicant has the use of the full block for 15 years, during which time he is required to develop it according to an approved plan,” said Mr Corbe“- At the end of the period he could retain the equivalent of one sheep unit or two dairy- units, but was required to make the balance available for settlement.

Two blocks had been offered and selected, the first at Waikite, near Rotorua, with an area of 940 acres estimated to provide four dairy and one mixed unit; and the second at Manginagina, near Ohaewai, of 1188 acres, estimated to provide one dairy and two sheep units. Other areas which would be offered were the Mangatutu block, near Te Awamutu, of 3060 acres, estimated to provide four sheep units, and the Puaiti block, near Ngakuru, of 1205 acres, estimated to provide three dairy and two sheep units. Mr Corbett said that the annual programme for the development of land from the virgin state was 40,000 acres, together with the complementary roading systems, stocking for consolidation, and the provision of amenities. During the 1952-53 vear the Ministry of Works, on behalf of the Land Settlement Board, completed 87 miles of new formation and 102 miles of metalling. It was expected that about the same mileages would be completed in the current year.

Building of Houses 'Die Ministry of Works had also built more than 1000 farm dwellings for the Land Settlement Board, and in addition the Lands and Survey Department had erected more than 350 houses with its own organisation. Great difficulty was experienced in 1952 in the Rotorua area in having sufficient houses built to keep pace with other phases of the development programme, but the provision of part houses helped overcome the problem. Up to the end of last December 137 houses of that type had been built, said the Minister. In addition, the Land Settlement Board had provided temporary living accommodation in more than 300 cases.

“This helps in the earlier settlement of sections and allows the ex-service-man to farm his holding while a permanent dwelling is built,” Mr Corbett continued.

Discussing the work of the Marginal Lands Board, the Minister said that since its inception in 1951 it had approved 182 applications for loans totalling more than £500.000. Those loans would enable farmers to grass about 8500 acres of unimproved land, renew more than 6000 acres of runout pasture, and improve nearly 4000 acres of inferior pasture. When that prorgamme had been carried out the farms would carry an additional 1800 dairy cows, 43,300 sheep. 2000 run cattle, and 1600 breeding cows.