FEW APPLICANTS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22612, 15 April 1948, Page 5

FEW APPLICANTS

RECENT FARM BALLOTS

LAND FOR EX-SERVICEMEN (P.A.) WELLINGTON, April 15. in some districts it would seem that for certain types of farming properties the demand by ex-servicemen had fallen off, said the Minister of Rehabilitation, Mr. C. F. Skinner, at the monthly meeting of the Rehabilitation Board. The Minister was commenting on information before the board which showed that, despite many qualified ex-ser-vicemen waiting for farms of their own, there had in some recent ballots been very few applicants. Particular reference was made to a ballot held during February for two undefined sheep sections in the Fighting Hill farm settlement, Rakaia Gorge, Canterbury, and for which only two applications were received. The board was informed that until the end of February 500,805 acres had been acquired for settlement under the provisions of the Small Farms Act or Servicemen’s Settlement and Land Sales Act. This was divisible into 572 sheep-farming units, 772 dairy farms, and 84 sundry farming units, making 1428 farms in all. Added to this were 280 farms which could result from a further 74,610 acres of Crown land previously held and suitable for the settlement of ex-servicemen. This made a total potential of 1708 farms.

At the same time 832 ex-servicemen had been placed on Crown land—s 66 on permanent tenure and 266 on wages, with the promise of the title when the development work was sufficiently advanced. There were also 4064 ex-ser-vicemen who had been placed with rehabilitation assistance on single units farms for which they had themselves negotiated.

During February 19,237 acres had been acquired for settlement, divisible into 18 sheep farms, 20 dairy farms, and one mixed farm. Of this, 15,011 acres had been purchaser under the provisions of the Small Farms Act. 4083 acres under Fart 11 of the Servicemen’s Settlement and Land Sales Act, and 143 acres under Section 51 of the same legislation.