LAND SETTLEMENT

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 21 December 1928, Page 9

LAND SETTLEMENT

ACCELERATION OF WORK.

MINISTERS’ PROPOSALS.

POSITION TO BE INVESTIGATED

(By Telegraph—Special to The Stax.) WELLINGTON, Dec. 21. With a vigorous policy in connection with the railways and State advances, a prompt acceleration or land settlement was indicated Dy the iron. ti. ■; W • Forbes, Minister of Lands, when • questioned to-day. "My intention," 1 1 replied the Minister, "is when tlie holiday season is over to convene a I conference of commissioners of Grown lands of all districts in the Dominion, and to discuss with them the most enective means ol bringing about the settlement of available lauds in the hands of the Crown. The question of abandoned farms, of which there are a considerable number on the books of the department, will be thoroughly gone into and, wherever necessary, the values will be readjusted so as to make them attractive propositions to those seeking farming lands. The possibility of developing- tne pumice lands and the undeveloped areas in various parts of the Dominion will be examined with a view to putting in hand schemes for their profitable settlement. In connection with this, I intend during the next few months to examine these areas, to discuss problems on the spot, and to arrange, if possible, for the necessary developmental work to be commenced promptly This should enable employment to be found for a considerable number of men and in some measure help to relieve the unemployment difficulty.” Asked regarding the possibility of the purchase of improved land for closer settlement, the Minister stated: “I am instructing my officers throughout the Dominion to furnish a report as to suitable land available, and on receipt of that information measures will be taken to acquire areas in various parts of the Dominion to suit the demand for land of that description. Thus, I hope by the time Parliament meets to be able to show some improvement in the position of land settlement in the Dominion.”