“HOMESTEAD SYSTEM”

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 163, 28 March 1923, Page 5

“HOMESTEAD SYSTEM”

NFAV LANDS TO BE' OPENED ADVANCES FOR SETTLEMENT The Minister of Lands (the Hon. D. H. Guthrie) yesterday issued a statement in regard to putting into operation the provisions of section-11 of the Land Laws Amendment Act, 1919, governing the disposal of lands under the Waste Lands Development system, popularly known as the “homestead system.” Tlie Minister explains that two large blocks in the Auckland and North Auckland districts, totalling some 16,000 acres, and subdivided into 84 sections, have been surveyed with a view to allotting the sections when the Government is in a position to -make the. necessary advances. The question, however, has still to be decided whether these lahds will, in the first instance, be,offered generally, or whether discharged soldiers will have preference. The Act provides for borrowing not more than oiie million pounds in any financial year, and the proposed regulations provide for individual advances not exceeding £l6oO being allotted to an applicant as follow:—Ploughing and clearing, £150; manures, £200; grass seed, £lOO : fencing, • £400; housci' and outbuildings, £500; water supply, £KD; implements, etc., £200; total £1650. The time,, however, is not yet /regarded as be’ing auspicious for undertaking the heavy additional financial responsibilities involved, especaliy in view of the fact that a.t the present times there are a very largo number of surveyed ordinary Crown land sections which’ are available, and can be selected by those desirous of taking up virgin lands, and which, moreover, would earlier become revenue-producing and do not involve the responsibility of making large advances. The poor North Auckland gum lands require from five'to seven years to bring them into permanent profit at an estimated cost of from £8 to £lO an acre. “There is no intention of allowing the Act to ''become a ‘dead letter,’ ” added the Minister, “and as f soon as conditions become stabilised and warrant it, the lands will be opened as provided by the Act and regulations.”