STATE LAND PURCHASE PLANS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 21924, 19 January 1946, Page 4

STATE LAND PURCHASE PLANS

NEGOTIATIONS FOR OVER 33,000 ACRES

SETTLING OF DISTRICT EX-SERVICEMEN

Thousands of acres of good sheep country in the Gisborne and Bast Coast districts are to be purchased by the Government for the settlement of ex-servicemen. The Government has already served notice on the owners of approximately 33,000 acres of land of its intention to purchase. Negotiations regarding the price to be paid for this land are under way, and it is hoped that in some cases at least duality will soon be readied.

In addition, the question of purchase lias been discussed with the owners of other blocks of land and inspections have been made. In these cases, however, the stage has not yet been reached either of purchase or the serving oi notice.

This information was given this morning by the Minister of Rehabilitation, Mr. C. F. Skinner. Who held a number of interviews with ex-service-men in Gisborne last night and again this morning. The interviews were with individuals and the discussions were of a private nature. Other Farms Also Inspected “The Government has already served notice on the owners of a total of 32.823 acres of land in the Gisborne and East Coast districts,” said the Minister. “Other properties have been inspected and tentative proposals have been made. “It is impossible to say exactly when negotiations in respect of these properties will be completed, but we hope that it will be in the near future. We are doing all we can to speed up purchases. “The policy we are following regarding the selection of properties for acquisition, if suitable, is land held by absentee owners, deceased estates, companies, and places which we consider are too large for one owner. This avoids displacement. “So far in no case of compulsory acquisition have we caused hardship to anyone,” added the Minister. Power To Take Multiple Farms

purchase of some land, but other properties had been declined for obvious reasons, such as shortage of water or the fact that they were in an exposed position, and therefore would be unsuitable. “The settlement of ex-servicemen on the land is not as easy as it may sound,” Mr. Skinner continued. “We know there are a number of men looking fr property, and we want to see those who will make good farmers on the land. But in inspecting properties we have to be sure that they have a reasonable chance of making a success. Some properties are not suitable for sub-division.

“We have also taKen power under the Act to acquire multiple farms, if we wish. We can now take into consideration all the holdings a man may have, but we must leave him with sufficient for an economical unit. We regard an economic unit as sufficient to maintain 1000 ewes in good sheep country. This, of course, does not mean that wo are going to take all land above that carrying 1000 ewes.” The Minister said that his department was also alive to the necessity of providing ex-servicemen with small holdings for intensive farming on the flats. Some in this district already had been put on to small properties as going concerns. Other small properties, for citrus fruit-growing or for cropping, for instance, had been inspected. Negotiations were now in progress for the

“Then, there is the present shortage of materials for sub-division. Where building materials are required, there is bound to be delay. Fencing wire is another commodity in very short supply.

“We have the interests of the returned men at heart, as they agree when we explain what we are doing. We cannot make public negotiations for the acquisition of property. Such action would imperil their success. When this is explained, the average applicant for land is prepared to be patient a little longer,”