NATIVE LANDS

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXVII, Issue 4459, 19 October 1933, Page 5

NATIVE LANDS

DEVELOPMENT SCHEME. A complete statistical return showing the precise position of the Native lands development scheme and private contracts as at March. 31 last has been prepared for submission to the Unemployment Board by the Minister of Native Affairs (the Hon. Sir Apirana Ngata). The gross authorisations under both headings are as follows: — Fencing and bush-felling, 10,998; scrub-cutting, 37,288 acres;. clearing gorse and rushes, grubbing _ and stumping, 28,568 acres; draining, 10,338 chains; posts, 187,508; battens, 482,689; strainers, 3528; laying material, 6313 chains; erecting, 39,890 chains; cultivation and ploughing’, 9005 acres; discing, 7938 acres; top-dressing, 2999 acres; sowing, 17,007 acres. The estimated cost is £109,962, towards which there is a gi’ant of £45,667 and a loan of £2399. The number of men employed is 7410. Included-in the fencing activities, repair work covering 21,342 chains is provided for. Under the heading of cultivation, 7910 acres are being harrowed, 1988 rolled, and 1000 levelled. Also being put in hand are shelter belts, and ordinary tree planting, and in some instances hay-mak-ing- and potato-digging are being carried out. In addition to laying a pipe-line for the Te Puia water supply, the site is being prepared for the children’s health camp at Otaki. Considerable work is being done in the erection of buildings, and the plan provides also for the erection of four bridges and three telephone lines. Of the roading programme, access roads, covering 1203 chains, are under way and pack tracks are being cut.