LAND FOR FARMS

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 11953, 25 May 1933, Page 5

LAND FOR FARMS

PROGRESS OF DEVELOPAIENT

SCHEMES,

GALATEA, NGAKURU AND

ONEPIT

BALLOTS BETWEEN NOAV AND

FEBRTTA RY

SIXTY-ONE SECTIONS TO BE OFFERED.

ALL READY TO TAKE HERDS. HOUSES RROMDED ON HALF THE SECTIONS. ADVANCES FOP, BUILDINGS TN OTHER CASES. FURTHER BALLOTS TO FOLLOW IN 1935MINISTER REPLIES TO CRITICISM. (Press Association) ROTORUA, Afny *24. An important indication of iris Department’s policy in regard to the Galatea, Rotorua and Oncpu development blocks was given by the Afmiste.v of Lands in the course of his remarks at the opening of Iho Rotorua Winter Show and tho now show buildings to-day.

Th c . Minister said although a groat cleat of criticism hno boon directed nt himself and his Department In regard to the irUfvolopmcnt of these areas he was proceeding along a definite line of policy, and did not intend to he diverted from the line of action upon which he was determined and which lie felt, he could justly claim excellent results had been achieved, and his policy f'mpl.V justified. In. regard to Hula tea, the Minister said tho purchase of this estate had been his first, venture a s Minister of Lands, and he was prepared to accept full responsibility for it. TTc had been criticised for delay in settling the 1 area, but his policy was to procood with the proper consolidation of pastures before throwing open the sections for selection. His Department was at present .running 10,000 acres of the better class of pasture as a sheep and cattle run, which was developing the weaker section. Th 0 run w aR at present returning satisfactory interest noon the capital investment. Tlic total area available at Galatea. said the Minister, was 22,000 acres and ir. was proposed to diVido it into approximately 200 sections oi !00 acres. The first ballot would be held in February of' iT&xfc year, when twenty sections on which iho n e' T p.,rass wa.s consolidated, would he offered. In 1935 a further 30 o r 40 sections would ho offered, with another .50 in the following year, and so on, until the whole block was taken up. Dwellings and buildings would he provided on 50 P G r cent, of the sections, the remainder would ho left vacant for settlers wile desired erect their own homos.

The same policy in regard to buildings, continued the Alinister, would, bo" adopted at- Ngakuru and Onopu. Water would bo provided on each section, and payment by settlors would’be made by instalments.

Tfc was also proposed to establish demonstraticn farm on Galatea, on the same, lines as the ono already successfully in operation at Ngakuru, The Alinister also gave figures °F production at Onopu and Ngakuru, showing that excellent results had bccii achieved in a compa-vatr,oly rhort space of time. Summarising He Department’s policy iwifch regard to the three block", the Minister paid that between tho present time and February next. 31 sections would bo offered at Ngakuru, iS at Galatea, and 20 at Oncpu. ranking a total of 09 sections. These would all be in permanent pasture and ready to take herds. Buildings would be erer-t°d on 50 per cent, ol these holdings, and advances on the erection of buildings would ho available in other cases. The Alinister added that for a- number of years he had been convinced that the.rOv wore excellent prospects of developing tho pumice belt, and he claimed that thc results from tho settlement schemes at. present in operation fully justified bis confidence.