SETTLING THE LAND

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 147, 19 December 1930, Page 12

SETTLING THE LAND

GOVERNMENT'S POLICY THE GROUP SYSTEM

At the present time the Government has 61,000 acres of land under" development. Since the passing cf last year's legislation the Lands Development Board has advanced £58,000 to-settlers for the improvement of Crown holdings, and has also authorised the expenditure of £128,000 for the development of Crown areas prior to selection. In a statement yesterday the Minister of Lands (the Hon. E. A. Kansom); said that in two years the.Government had disposed of 1477 rural holdings, comprising 572,000 acres. A total of 574 entirely new holdings had been, selected, the average cost per settler being £1343. During December and January 110 sections were being of* fercd. The number of properties purchased by the Land Purchase Board was 48, comprising an area of 87,001) acres. The number of holdings already, offered was 191, and the number selected 182. % The first area of land to be dealt with under the group system comprised. 1000 acres of swamp land near Mercer. It was proposed to subdivide and improve this area, .of which, it was estimated 100, acres would be ample for a dairy farm. It was proposed to allow ' the men who did the improvement work the'first opportunity to take up sections. The Native Department had thirty separate schemes throughout; both islands in progress or contem- ■ plated, the area involved being '80,000 IMPORTANT RESEARCH. "An interesting and highly important experiment is being carried out on. the Eastcrficld block ou the West Coast of. the South Island," said the Minister. "This comprises 250 acres of pakihi land, which is being placed under experimental cultivation. Up to the present time these areas, which are often of a swampy nature and covered with a, dense growth of a certain type of rushes, have been viewed as of comparatively no vulue for pastoral purposes. Researches made by the Caw-r thron Institute and earlier experiments by the Department of Agriculture have shown that excellent grass land cau be produced without extensive cost. Eecen.6 work by the Cawthron Institute in establishing excellent pasture by the use of lime and liberal top-dressing has given considerable promise that this land can be brought into successful operation. "The present experimental work i* being carried out by the Lands _ Department in conjunction with the institute and the main points of the work' are firstly to» place a sufficient area in. grass to ascertain whether stocks can! be carried throughout the whole year under ordinary farming conditions, and. secondly, to sec whether the cost of . bringing the land into this eonditioa will be such as to allow the proposition1 to bo regarded as economical. The cost of all operations will be carefully; recorded and checked. The value ofthese exepriments is illustrated by the fact that 43,000 acres of this -land id lying idle at present."