LAND SETTLEMENT

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 76, 22 December 1928, Page 10

LAND SETTLEMENT

ACCELERATION OF POLICY STATEMENT BY MINISTER “It is my intention, when the holiday season is over, to convene a conference of the Commissioners of Crown Lands of all the land districts in the Dominion, and to discuss with them the most effective means of bringing about the settlement of the available lands in the hands of the Crown,” said the Minister of Lands (Hon. G. W. Forbes) in a statement to the Press yesterday. “The Question of abandoned farms, of which there is a considerable number on the books of the Department, will be thoroughly gone into, and wherever necessary values will be readjusted so as to make them attractive propositions to those seeking farming lands. “The possibility of developing the pumice lands and the undeveloped areas in the various parts of the Dominion will be examined with a view to putting in hand schemes for their profitable settlement. In connection with this, I intend, during the next few months, to examine these areas, to discuss the problems on the spot, and to arrange, if possible, for the necessary developmental work to be commenced promptly. This should enable employment to be found for a considerable number of men, and in some measure help to relieve the unemployment difficulty.”

Asked about the possibility of improved land being purchased for closer settlement, the Minister stated: “I am instructing my officers throughout the Dominion to furnish a report as to the' suitable land available, and on receipt of that information measures will

be taken to acquire areas in various parts of the Dominion to suit the demand for laud of that description Thus I hope by the time that Parliament meets to be able to show some improvement-in the position of land settlement-in the Dominion.”