LAND SETTLEMENT

Evening Star, Issue 19002, 25 July 1925, Page 3

LAND SETTLEMENT

PROTECTION FROM AGGREGATION.

PLANNING OF MODEL SUBURBS

There were 1,009 holdings, comprising approximately a total area of 182,789 acres, opened for selection in 1924-25; 344,000 acres of Crown settlement, national-endowment lands, and reserves, subdivided into 750 sections, were selected on ireehokl and leasehold tenures, and 53U miscellaneous leases were also issued, comprising an area ol 117,000 acres. The balance of the Tevipt sections were balloted for and disposed of, there being a keen demand for this class of open sheep country. At the present time an area of about 480,000 acres of Crown settlement and national-endowment lands is open for selection. An area of 2,914 acres was set apart for selection by discharged soldiers, whilst proclamations were issued revoking the setting apart of an area of 9,114 acres which had been proclaimed for soldier settlement. In connection with modern town-planning proposals, _ competitive schemes are being invited hi connection with the planning of model suburbs at Orakei, Auckland, and the iiutt Valley, Wellington. Although there is no particular indication that land aggregation on a serious scale is taking place in the dominion, the Government is desirous of protecting as far as possible small settlers’ holdings from absorption into large estates. With this in view it is proposed to apply a check by means of the duty on conveyances, the present rate of which is £1 per cent. This rate would under the new scheme operate on transfer of rural land to a holder who will not have with his new purchase an excess of a fixed capital value in land. Any acquisition above that value, however, is to be subject to an increasing percentage rate to a maximum of 8 per cent. The proposed method should appeal to all who desire to see the settlement of the country maintained on a basis of opportunity for the small settler, and fuller details will be submitted at a later date.