FOR SMALL SETTLERS

Evening Post, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 8, 9 July 1909, Page 8

FOR SMALL SETTLERS

LAND FOR IMPROVED FARMS. GOVERNMENTS PROPOSALS. "It has been finally decided," said the Acting-Minister of Lands (Hon. D. Buddo) to a Post reporter this afternoon, "to have 400 sections prepared under the Improved Farm Settlement Regulations. The lands that are suitable for this purpose are reasonably near railway or harbour, and are in the Wellington, Taranaki, and Auckland provinces. The area available for each settler will be from 100 to 200 acres, according to the quality of the land. "It is not," he added, "intended to make a distinction between retrenched Civil servants, general workers, or others who may apply for these improved farm settlement lands. The Commissioner of Crown Lands will receive all the applications from all classes of people, and then the various Land Boards, as empowered by regulations, will select those applicants who are eligible to ballot for choice of sections. "The principal point in connection with this system," continued the Minister, "is the fact that the Government advanced money to enable the settlers to clear their lands and bring them into profitable occupation. Each class of land will be carefully scheduled, so that the advances will be made in proportion to the work to be done. For instance, open land would not cost so much to bring into' occupation as fern or bush or scrub land, and in such cases, of course, the advances will be less. The advance will be sufficient to cover the cost of clearing fifty acres, and the settler will also be allowed funds to assist him in building and fencing tho homestead. The regulations are stringent in regard to residence and transfer, and are devised to ensure that the laifd shall only be taken up by bona-tide settlers. It is expected that these sections will be open for selection early in the spring, and the Commissioners of Crown Lands are at present engaged in the necessary work of preparation, with a view to their being opened for selection at that time.