The Guardian And Evening Star, with which Is incorporated the West Coast Times. MONDAY, APRIL, 15, 1929. LAND FOR SETTLEMENT.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 April 1929, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which Is incorporated the West Coast Times. MONDAY, APRIL, 15, 1929. LAND FOR SETTLEMENT.

In an interim statement regarding the preparation of the (ioveriimont’s land .settlement policy, the Minister of Bands (Mr (!. W. Forbes’) refers to the

development of tin* group settlement idea on a block o'f 20,000 acres in the Taiipo-Botorua district, where surveys are now being made. The Minister points out, however, that in the absence of parliamentary authority no money is available at present for financing his scheme. Privately-owned lands are lieing offered at prices which arc considered excessive, and the Minister hints that it may lie necessary to apply compulsion to bring about their resumption. With respect to the pro gramme for (he future. Mr Forbes said he had asked the Commission is of

Crown lands to sided areas ol un developed Crown lands suitable lor sub division ill their districts and get the necessary surveys made so that settle ment could la- proceeded with alien Parliament approved of the necessary finance being provided. The present

position was that lie had no authority to expend any money in preparing land lor occupation or m malting the necessary improvements in the initial stages ol' the hreaking-iu of their holdings. “ Until that power is given,” the Minjster said, “ I cannot legally assist a settler going on to an unimproved lmsli section, even to tlie extent of one sliil ling, which makes any attempt to set tie that class of land futile. As the result of my tour of inspection 7 am satisfied that there are in the Dominion hundreds of thousands of acres ol unimproved land, mostly in hush ano tern, which can he profitably occupied now that the value of to-dressing for that class of land is understood. A* a result of my visit to the Tuiipo-Roio run district topographical and physical surveys of a block of '20,(1(1(1 acres nn being undertaken by officers of my department, two plane table parties being detailed for the work. When that c omplolod the area will he in readmestor tackling for settlement when tin necessary funds are available. Mode* in other parts of tin* Dominion will also he taken in ham! on similar lines I am very anxious to push on with this work, hut the fact tliai no provision was made in the past to enable it to he • one makes some delay unavoidable.” 'n regard to the purchase ol privately owned properties for closer settlement ibe .Minister said that it was not as satisfactory as lie could wish. f-.ince December last 2M properties had been ilaced under offer in areas ranging '•om ir,{) to 20,1)00 acres. A large •umber of these, from their description were deemed to bo unsuitable from i he utset. A number appeared to he desirable holdings, and the Dominion band Purchase Hoard was obtaining -"ooi'ts on and valuations rif them, hut Mr Forbes was not hopeful of much business being done as the prices asked for the properties which had been examined were, in almost every ease considerably above the producing value of the land and the Government valuation. In some cases, indeed, the price asked was double the existing roll valuation, it looked as il it would not he possible to avoid the bringing int • operation of the compulsory clauses o 1 the Act. The Clovernment did not wish to he placed in that position ; hut with the knowledge that the prcseir unsatisfaetory condition ol the Dominion in regard to unemployment could he improved primarily by closer settleinent and the better utilisation of the land, the necessity of doing something to bring that about should he as apparent to the land owners of the Dominion as to the Government; and it was considered that it was reasonahl to ask 'for their co-operation in that direction. However, up to the present the spirit in which it had been approached by land owners was a demand for excessive values on most ol the properties placed under offer, with no response at all on the part of the mahvity of those holding large areas of i-uul particularly suitable for close set tlemon!.. 1 am hoping that there wiI’ he a change of. attitude in this respect,” continued the Minister, “ am! Hint it will not he necessary to apnlv compulsion, hut I am empowered to say that the Government recognises itresponsibilities and will not shrink from the exercise of the powers pro-

vided by Parliament to bring about t' closer settlement of the lands of the Dominion.” The Minister has deeidcd to set up immediately local land purelm so hoards which will co-operate witn and work under the control ol the Dominion Land Purchase Hoard. These Hoards ivill comprise the Commissioner ■if Crown Lands for each land district and three other persons to he appointed by the Crown. The duties of the hoards will he to deal with all oilers of land to the Crown and report on these recommending thoir purchase or otherwise. In every case before the coinoil Isory clauses were invoked the ownin' or owners of the land would he given every opportunity to go before the ivard and voice his or their objections. After hearing those the local hoards would report to the main hoard, which would consider the report and make a recommendation to the Minister.