LAND SETTLEMENT OF EX-SERVICEMEN

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 210, 2 June 1944, Page 4

LAND SETTLEMENT OF EX-SERVICEMEN

50,500 Acres Acquired DEVELOPMENT OF MAIN BLOCKS (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, June 1. The Crown already had acquired more than 50,500 acres of farming land for the settlement of ex-servicemen and 97 subdivisions were now almost ready, said the Minister of Rehabilitation, Major Skinner, in an interview. Iu addition more than 280 ex-servicemen bad been settled on freehold farms by the granting of loans which totalled more than £BOO,OOO. The main blocks being developed were situated in the Putaruru and Rotorua districts, said the Minister. The erection of houses, cowsheds and other outbuildings already had been commenced. On one of these blocks labour from a conscientious objectors’ camp had been utilized for development and building. The size of the various subdivisions varied according to the nature of the land, but it was the aim of the rehabilitation authorities to give ex-servicemen sufficient land to maintain about 45 cows. The difficulty of providing housing was delaying the scheme somewhat. The Minister stated that the land purchased by the 280 successful applicants was freehold. With regard to the blocks of land now being developed, it was the intention of the Government to grant a renewable lease. In cases where exservicemen desired freehold tenure, it was the policy of the Government to adopt a form of controlled freehold, similar to that granted by the Waikato Land Development Society. This provided for safeguards against speculation and required the express permission of the Minister of Finance before ownership could be changed. Efforts were being made to ensure that all these ureas would be suitably stocked with quality cattle. The Rehabilitation Department already was running thousands of cattle and sheep on these blocks, and it _had been decided to purchase about 2500 calves from quality dairy herds during this year for the stocking of these areas.

Apart from the difficulty of providing suitable housing, the department was experiencing difficulty in obtaining sufficient fertilizer aud supplies of fencing materials for the necessary subdivision. The Minister emphasized that the department was receiving the same allocation of fertilizer as farmers, and this was not sufficient to carry out development as extensively as had been hoped. Ex-servicemen were now realizing that it was essential first to approach their local rehabilitation officer before making any arrangements to purchase farms. This had overcome one of the greatest difficulties of the scheme, as in the past many men had wasted much time and effort in travelling round the countryside and selecting farms before approaching the authorities.