LAND SETTLEMENT

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 11576, 31 July 1931, Page 3

LAND SETTLEMENT

UNITED PARTY’S RECORD NEARLY A- MILLION .ACRES OF CROWN LANDS SELECTED 51 PRIMATE ESTATES ALSO BOUGHT (Official! WELLINGTON, July 30 The Government fully recognizes the necessity, especially in a primary producing country such as New Zealand, for the prosecution of a vigorous policy of land development and settlement. (says ihc Minister tor Finance in the Budget) and since assuming office has taken all steps possible both to bring into production all idle lands and to foster closer settlement. During the period Ist December 1995. fallen the United Government tool; office), to the 31st May, 1931. a total fOii of over 910.000 acres ol all classes of Crown lands has been selected on various tenures, involving over 1.350 subdivisions, which include some 700 entirely new rural sections selected on permanent tenures The number <>t settlers actually placed on tho land, however, while considerable, does .not cover the whole - -of the Government's activities in tliis-respoct, as the areas which are being developed by the (Town have not yet. boon offered tor selection. It is satisfactory in this connection te nolo that every unoccupied -block of Crown land in the Dominion has been specially reported upon, and a* a resell arrangements arc b.eing made to settle a large number oi' sections, tlie settlers to receive financial assistance for tbo further development of the land in li-i-ms-ol tho Land l.u.ws Amendment Act, 1929. In addition, to I lie development of Crow-ii lands, the Government has also acquired some fifty-four pn-perlies, covering « tela! area of approximately 110.388 acres, ami capable of sebdi vi-s-on into 3ill farms. Included in the purchases were nineteen properties, totalling 19.910 acres, which Mere acquired under Fart Tl of the Land Laws Amend incut. Act. 1928, on behalf of sixty-seven approved applicants. Strict (supervision is exercised ever the purchase of private estates, Cor, as ’• general rule, it is preferable lo expend the funds available in developing Crown land rat hot- than in the pt;--cliase of private estates. Most of tho oroperlics purchased for ordinary settlement have been subdivided ami selected, but amongst; those not yet ottered arc two or three estates on which development work prior to selection is being carried out by the Crown ; ami in. tin’s connection I would specially mention the Galatea Estate (between. Whakatane ami Lake Tan!>;»). which it is proposed to cut tin into blocks ranging from 190 to “00 acres, the objective being to place 130 settlers in ' occupation on these liold.ui.gs. In the meantime ■ the reading and general development of the estate is providing employment tor several hundred men. Very successful, results which havp also been -accomplished in connection with the Native land-development schemes.