LAND SETTLEMENT

Evening Post, Volume XCI, Issue 143, 17 June 1916, Page 9

LAND SETTLEMENT

CROWN LANDS AND AGRICULTURE

FOR THE BENEFIT OF SOLDIERS,

Land settlement is dealt ; with comprehensively in fee following statement: — " The gross revenue received from Crown and endowment lands of the-Do-minion shows an increase for tho past year. Tho total receipts amounted to £1,286,524, as against £1,163,127 received during the previous twelve months. Analysing the figures under the main headings, the result is— Ordinary Crown lands ... -.. £501,941 Land for settlements ■.-.. ... 480,288 Cheviot Estate ... ... ■„.■ 15,654 National endowment _. ... 115,183 Primary and secondary educa- , tion endowments 87,504 Other sources ... _.' ... 85,954 £1,286,524 " The amounts outstanding at the 31st March were £23,514, representing 'postponements of rent granted under section 13 of the Land Laws Amendment Act, 1912, and £33,737, representing ordinary arrears. A total area of approximately 750,000 acres was offered for public application ' during the year under the various tenures provided by the Land Act and the Land for Settlements Act, etc., and the bulk of this land was readily taken up.. "In accordance with the intention of the Government to afford every facility j for the selection of land by members of! our Expeditionary Forces who have re- j turned to the Dominion and who have been honourably discharged, a considerable area has been proclaimed for selection under the Discharged Soldiers i Settlement Act, 1915. Other suitable areas are under survey, and will be made available as early as possible. Already numbers of applications for land have been lodged. The. regulations governing tho granting of financial assistance to soldier settlers have been issued, and money up to an amount of £50,000 has been authorised under the Act to provide advances to assist in developing the holdings.

" As there is at present every prospect of another good year for our farmers, and as the bulk of our exports is not in the nature of luxuries but rather of necessaries to the peoples of Europe, the outlook for the future is hopeful, although obviously it is not to be expected thut the present very high, level of prices will continue after peace is established.

" The purchase of lands for settlement during the year has been for various reasons considerably restricted. Sixteen thousand four hundred and ninety-five acres, valued at £136,326, were, however, purchased. There has been a good demand for the whole. Arrangements are now being made to secure suitable lands for returned soldiers, for which purpose £500,000 will be required. Land should be available in various districts under conditions likely to induce settlement. Notwithstanding the war, land values show no tendency to drop, owing, no doubt, to the great demand for all products."