SETTLING LANDS

Evening Post, Volume CI, Issue 48, 25 February 1921, Page 4

SETTLING LANDS

STATEMENT BY MINISTER

PROBLEM OP POOR COUNTRY.

Replying to criticism on tho^ operations of the Lands Department, tho Minister (Hon. D.'II. Gutbrie) yesterday emphasised the magnitude of the difficulties which had to be faced in carrying out successful settlement. In regard to poor country—sucli as gum and pumice lands —he had become convinced that the best way to treat the problem was to apply the homestead system. The eettters would" be granted the freehold, "loaded with oniy tlie advances nude. t<> tliem. Two blocks had been ehaseh,'one in the North Auckiaiid district aud the other in,the Taupd country, and a. start was being- made with settlement.

In regard to swanip la-nd the question of expense was tlie poser.. All that he had been aWc'to'do-was to get legislation framed to eiia>ble Kirn to' drain and irrigate, when money and labour beiame "'available. ' Maiutenaiioo" qf drains .was -essential, in dealing. "wilh swamp land. The most modern machinery purchased in America would become available in the'near'future.'

In regard to complaints abomV slow progress in settlement, with only a Wall iri.crefisc iii the iitiiiiber "of settlers, the Minister snid t that under one heading alone nearly' 9000 settlers had been placed "on"the land who wore'not there previously. Civilian settlement liad certainly been delayed, because tlie Government had found it necessary to reserve all "the available land' for' returned soldiers. But it had been decided that for the future land that was not readily taken lip by returned soldiers' could not jyb ■bijlcj idle. Sections that were not immediately required by returned splcliers would be offered for civilian o.ccupa.tion. Mistakes had' been made in the purchase of csfetes, and the Minister ad. initted- that in &e'case of tho estato in the "W'aii-arapa criticised at the Masterton Show the place should'have been liought as a going concern with the stock that had been bred on it. This had been done with later''puyehases. The property | had' been cut up and settled by inexperienced men. some of whom had 1 not done wall. It had been done before the Department appointed supervisors to •help inexperienced men. He believed such mistakes had'been-singularly'few.