SOLDIERS’ SETTLEMENTS

Gisborne Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 4964, 3 September 1918, Page 5

SOLDIERS’ SETTLEMENTS

LAND PURCHASE BOARD’S WORK IN THE DISTRICT.

INTERESTING INTERVIEW WITH THE CHAIRMAN.

DIFFICULTY IN SECURING SUITABLE BLOCKS.

“Tile present values in the Gisborne district are high, and, of course, the returns warrant the owners asking high prices, and judging from these the farmers in this district are very well off,” said Mr. J. D, Ritchie, chairman of the Land Purchase Board, to a Gisborne Times reporter yesterday. Mr. Ritchie, with two other officials, Mr. E. H. Wilmott (Surveyor-General) and Mr. W. F. Marsh (Commissioner oi Crown Lands), have been inspecting properties which have been offered in the district for soldier. settlements. The Board has visited the Patutahi, Whatatutu and Waimata districts, and one or two other blocks will he visited later. “It appears from what the Board can learn,’’ Mr. Ritchie informed our representative, “that the demand by soldiers is mainly lor sheep country, and, as is realised, the country in the Gisborne district does not lend itself well to subdivision into small areas of a reasonable character—hence the Board’s difficulties in securing suitable land. The Board is very anxious to meet the demand and will continue its efforts in this direction, hut tinder present conditions it is faced with a most difficult matter. There are one or two other blocks in this district which will he visited later. Mr. W. G. Sherratt made it widely known that the Board would receive offers of suitable land, but the number of offers liad been extremely limited. We have difficulties in this respect; there is a difficulty of getting areas either for dairying purposes or general farming that can be subdivided into reasonably sized areas at a reasonable capital value. No doubt the district is a very fine one. I was agreeably surprised with the country at Waimata, where good work has been done in breaking in the country.” One or two places, it was stated by Mr. Ritchie, will he valued with a' view to further consideration. The Board return hv the Arahura for Napier to-day.