DEVELOPMENT OF LANDS

Hawera Star, Volume L, 19 December 1930, Page 5

DEVELOPMENT OF LANDS

PROGRESS OF STATE SCHEMES INCREASED SETTLEMENT AIM ACTIVITIES OF PAST TWO YEARS i.eleg;iapU —fress Assueialiui*.; WELLINGTOxN. Dec. IS. sixteen biocKs or land rront Aor ill Auciiiand to Soutnland, witn a total area or Pl,Ooo acres, are at present unuer development, or are being prepared ior tiiat purpose, aeoqruing to a compreliensive review oi ntna development activities covering the past two years issued by the Gqernment to-day. it is pointed out that the Government was eommittou l to a policy of increased settlement, and in setting out the extent or operations in liana, and especially tlie widespread activities or tne Lands Department since trie passing pi the amending legislation of 1929. it is emphasised that the fruits of that policy arc already apparent. oince the passing or last year’s legislation the Lands Development Hoard has advanced £358,060 to settlers tor the improvement of Crown holdings, die review states. J.t has also authorised. the expenditure of £128,000 ior the development of Crown, areas prior to selection. Large areas are being brought into production, and the Government’s efforts in this direction are summed up in the announcement that a total of 61,000 acres is included in 16 separate blocks upon which attention is being directed: at the moment. Rural holdings totalling 1477, aggregating 572,000 acres, have been disposed or during the two years. it is pointed out that the real test of the settlement policy was to be found ill the number of rural holdings made available and the average cost per settler. The number of holdings selected was 574, and the average cost per settler was £1343. It is also intended to offer a further HO’ sections during December and January. For the putting into effect of its policy the Government has purchased 48 properties with a total area oi 8 GOOD acres. The amount involved was £73 G--600 and the number of holdings made available as the result was 228. U 1 these 191 holdings had already been offered and 182 had actually been selected. In addition to the Lands Department’s activities the Minister of .Native Affairs has, attended to comprehensive proposals lor the development of native areas, his policy being to foster farming among the Maori people. A total of 30 separate schemes is stateu to be in operation or under consideration in various parts of both Islands. The area involved in this work is about 80,000 acres. An interesting and higlily important experiment is being earned out on the the Basterfield block on the "W est toast of the South Island. This comprises 250 acres of Fakihi land which is being placed under experimental cultivation. These lands have been viewed as of comparatively no value for pastoral purposes. Researches m'ade by the Cawthron Institute and earlier experiments, show that good pastures can be produced without extensive cost. Recent work by the Cawthron Institute in establishing excellent pasture, by the use of lime and liberal top-dressing has given considerable promise that this land can be brought into successful operation. The cost of ‘all operations will be carefully recorded and checked. The value of these experiments is illustrated by the fact- that 43,000 acres of this land is lying idle at present. The sum of £40,00 has been authorised for the development and roadmg of the WharekoKe block, near Whanga-, rei This block comprises 3700 acres, and in the meantime a total of 2000 acres will be developed'. . Interest attaches to the work being done on the Tapmvae block, near Te Kuiti. Its area is 3350 acres, of which two-tliirds is unimproved milled ousn land The sum of £IO,OOO has been authorised for development work. Felling contracts have been let and. bOO acres will shortly be ready for ournina. Felling operations will be carried out over 12000 acres per year. An access road is at present under renstruction and 300 acres is being cliallied Accomodation is being made available for workers, and the proposal is that a small community will be es-tablished-on the block, with schooling facilities for the children. It is expected that the whole block will be ready for offering by 1932. In a detailed examination ol eacri other individual scheme it is shown to what stage the work has advanced in i each district.