LAND SETTLEMENT

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 87, 9 October 1935, Page 7

LAND SETTLEMENT

ACTIVITIES OF THE YEAR

The annual report on the Land, for Settlements Act, 1925, presented to the House of Representatives yesterday, stated that owing to the unstable prices for farm produce, the marketing problem, and other difficulties it had not been deemed advisable to embark on any extensive scheme of land purchase during the past four years. Any areas offered which had been considered suitable for settlement under the Small Farms (Relief of Unemployment) Act had been diverted for' that purpose, and this fact, combined with the serious difficulties that had surrounded land' purchase operations, had slackened the pace of . settlement under the provisions of the Land for Settlements Act.: '

"As indicated in last year's report, share milkers were established on ten farms on the Galatea Settlement, and results . have been1 for the most part satisfactory," the report states! "Pending an improvement' in the econbmic situation as affecting the dairying industry the offering of sections in this block has been further postponed, and no further share milkers have been installed. :: The Department's farming operations on. the settlement have met .with) satisfactory results, and the stock capacity has materially increased through development. Over 18,000 sheep, including' 9000 breeding ewes, 840 dairy cows, and 2600 run cattle are being wintered, and it is estimated that by' shearing-time there will be approximately 27,000 sheep on the station. : :....,

"The Tapuwae Block is at. present wintering 4250 sheep and 700 head of cattle, and has responded well to development. In, addition to having provided fulV interest' on purchase and development costs, the area Has returned a substantial profit, and it has also been possible irom revenue to effect. considerable improvement to pastures which existed at time of purchase.

"Following development, the carrying capacity of the Kakariki Block has materially increased, approximately 11,000 sheep and 1400 head of cattle at present.being run on the properly. "Development operations on. Brinklands Settlement are practically completed, but it is not proposed to subdivide and, offer the area for, selection until the prospects for small mixedfairm holdings 'are more" encouraging. In the meantime the land is being successfully, farmed- by the Department, and is providing more than the annuaj interest charge on .the .capital .expenditure involved."