LAND SETTLEMENT

Evening Star, Issue 19349, 8 September 1926, Page 9

LAND SETTLEMENT

GISWE PBBSKASS JUSTIFIED [From Oce Parliamentary Reportes,] WELLINGTON. September 7. Criticism of the Government’s purchase of a block of land in Gisborne district at a cost of £65,000, where it cost £IO.OOO to settle each fanner taking up the subdivisions, was made in the House by Air Rolleston (Waitomo), who thought the Government would have done far better had it spent half that amount. The Minister of Lands, replying, said the purchase of this block had been made the subject of copious leading articles in a section of the Now Zealand Press with a view to showing how utterly useless the Land Department was. and much was made of the fact that this block would cut up into only five farms. The action of the department In tiiis connection had been characterised as duo to ignorance. However, lie wanted to explain the position. Air Fraser (Wellington Central): You still stick to the statement which you made? Mr M’Leod: “Yes, the statement 1 made to the Press.” Continuing, ho said there were 9,000 acres in the property, which was at prorent sheep farming country, But ho believed that eventually fo would bo cut up into fifteen or sixteen farms, sir.co considerable portions could bo used for dairy farming. The property would remain in the hands of the present owners till after the shearing, but there was no doubt that it could be used for dairying quite successfully, and he would not be surprised if twenty or more settlers were placed on the block.