DROP IN LAND REVENUE

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 9 November 1933, Page 4

DROP IN LAND REVENUE

DEPARTMENTAL REPORT

ißy Teiegrapb—L*ress Association.) WELLINGTON, Nov. 8. Receipts from rentals other than payments have .been fairly well maintained during the year, states the Under-Secretary of Rands in the department’s annual report. The first consideration has been, the adds, to keep a tenant on his farm and maintain liis property as. well as can be reasonably expected, while at the same time requiring him carefully to budget his expenditure and contribute to the State a. fair share of the revenue produced from the farm. A .great drop in land revenue is revealed in the report. The gross receipts in 1928 wore £1,290,856 but last year they were £742,820. Arrears of rent now amount to £1,010,979, but during the year rebates for prompt payment were granted 14,01 S Crown tenants. Excellent progress has been made in the development of various blocks of Crown land, although only one new scheme was commenced during the year. There are twelve development schemes in operation, nine being in tbe Auckland land district and one each in the Hia.wke’s Bay, Taranaki and Nelson districts. The total expenditure, to March laist was £200,968 exclusive of funds spent on surveys, reading etc. Developed allotments disjyosed of, 42 in number, will produce an annual rent or interest of £2058. The department has also assisted 40 .settlers to purchase stock and make improvements, the amounts advanced being £112,369. Land selections under all tenures during the year aggregated 1354 of 280,518 acres. The new areas taken up total 46,710 acres.