LAND FINANCE

Evening Star, Issue 18729, 3 September 1924, Page 5

LAND FINANCE

STATE'S HUGE OUTLAY. HEAVY ARREARS AND FORFEITURES. [From Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, September 2. The inclusion of soldier settlement in the Lands Department’s operations has brought the financial factor of land settlement into prominence. The annual report shows that rents in arrear on March 51 amounted to £514,448, an increase of £186,223 from last year. A large proportion is owing by discharged soldiers holding Crown leases, and the position in this respect will show great improvement when the work of the district revaluation committees and the Dominion Revaluation Board boars fruit. As regards civilian,settlers, “ no doubt,” says the report, “ a great many who paid high goodwills are having a hard struggle, and will require sympathetic treatment, while a certain proportion of the weaker men are gradually being displaced. The following shows the progressive increase in arrears of rent owing to the department during the last few years: 1920, £51,801. 1923, £358,225. 1921, £63,460. 1924, £544,445. 1922, £167,838.

11 The department has made every effort to effect a reduction, but the position is admittedly a difficult one. Jt might be placed on record that a groat number of tenants generally regard the Crown as the last debtor that should bo paid. This attitude is extremely difficult of removal, and accounts in no small measure for the volume of arrears. However, judicious pressure will bo applied where necessary, and no effort will be spared to improve the position.” The department has 35,734 tenants, and a rent roll of £1,220,000. Its capital expenditure on lands for settlement and swamp drainage totals £52,817,000, including £20,074,000 on account of soldier settlement. The annual revenue charges total £2,452,415. Crown tenants numbering 432 had holdings forfeited for noncompliance with the conditions. The area was 222,480 acres, and the annual rental £16,190. In addition, 175 tenants surrendered leases over an area of 140,672 acres, with an annual rental of £5,393. Receipts have been well maintained. The total from all sources, £1,329,074, is an increase of £120,652 over last year s figures. This excludes discharged soldiers’ settlement account receipts.