LAND DEVELOPMENT

Evening Star, Issue 21565, 10 November 1933, Page 3

LAND DEVELOPMENT

A SUBSTANTIAL PROGRAMME SMALL FARM PLAN Jn his Budget speech last night the Ut. Hon. J. G. Coates referred thus to land development progress and plans: The additional capital provided for laud development is being invested under the supervision of the Lands Development Board, and satisfactory progress is being made under a programme aimed at the development of 26,000 acres of various blocks. Of this area some 16,000 acres are now in new grass, while, a further 9,000 acres are in various stages of development. At times upwards of 1,000 men have been engaged in fencing, reading, and cultivation, ami at the present time over 200 men are employed on tho various blocks Approximately £280,000 has been expended on development operations and on loading works, surveys, etc. One of (be most interesting areas is the Ngakura block of over 14,000 acres, near Rotorua, where light pumice country, typical of large areas hitherto regarded as incapable of economic development, is being successfully converted into dairying land. The block will provide about fifty dairy farms, and it is proposed to offer the bulk of the land for selection early next year. I might also mention that on the Galatea estate of 22,000 acres a good deal of improvement work has been effected, and it is proposed to offer twenty sections in February, 1934, not less than thirty sections early in 1935, and a similar number in succeeding .years until the whole estate lias been settled. Jn addition to developing large blocks of land prior to cutting up for settlement, advances are being made by the Lands Development Board to individual settlers who have taken up undeveloped* Crown land. To date approximately £IBB.OOO has been advanced to 435 selectors, and the scheme, which is being closely supervised by the board, is giving good results in the development of unimproved country and a consequent increase in production. Settlers generally arc meeting the charges on their loans in a satisfactory manner. Development and improvement of Native lands is also being pushed forward, the work being carried out under two distinct systems according to the nature and size of flic holdings and the willingness of the Native communities to co-operate in their efforts. The third phase of land development is being carried out under the smalt farm plan. The object of this plan is the settlement of unemployed workers on the land, thereby providing them with a permanent occupation in our basic industries, where their efforts will indirectly assist in providing work for other persons at present unemployed. All suitable Crown land has been set aside for the purpose, but unfortunately there is not a great deal of idle Crown land that is suitable. Accordingly for the success of the scheme it is "essential that private lands held in too large areas should he more readily made available, but to date the response by owners has been disappointing, and the Government may have to give consideration to recourse to the powers of compulsory acquisition provided for in the Small Farms (Relief of Unemployment) Act, 1932-33. In some cases whore large areas arc held the board is reconditioning the deteriorated land, in consideration of which the owners cede portions to the Crown for settlement. The scheme is to ho extended as much as possible. There is, however, one very satisfactory feature of the scheme, and that is the immediate absorption of* unemployed on land development work. The Small Farms Board has in hand the improvement of areas aggregating 30,000 acres, which when subdivided, should provide for over 280 families. In addition, it has in prospect for development some 13,000 acres, which should provide for the ultimate settlement of approximately 200 families. At the present time over 400 men are engaged on development work, and, with the extension at present taking place, the coming summer should see upwards of 1,100 men on definitely reproductive work. The number of sections ultimately available will, unfortunately, not be sufficient to cater for all the workers, hut the future holders of the areas will he selected from those who have proved their ability during the development operations. Briefly summarised, the net results of the small farm scheme from its inception arc as follow: From As at April to April 15, Nov. 1, 1933. 1933. Number of small holdings approved 488 179 Number of sharemilking applications approved 265 50 Number of ’individual holdings in prospect, including those on blocks being developed 753 709 Grand total 1,461