AN INTERESTING RETURN

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCVI, Issue 14428, 19 July 1907, Page 8

AN INTERESTING RETURN

THE FREEHOLD LANDS OF THE COLONY. [Faou Ora COKBBSrONDHWT.] WELLINGTON, July IS. A valuable return, containing a mass of information relating to the freehold lands of the colony, was presented' to Parliament to-day. “It must be borne in mind by those who make a study of the figures,” it is stated, “that the tables relate solely to lands which are the companies and individuals. Th© lauds owned by tho Crown, Natives, local bodies, churches, educational bodies, friendly societies and other public bodies are not included, nor do the lessees of any lands appear in the tables.” The first table covers freehold land (classified according to capital or improved value) held at Alaroh 31, 1906. It is shown that the capital value of all freehold lands amounts to the.enormous total of £161,771,758, distributed between 128,019 individuals. Of these, 82,951 are the owners of town lands solely, 38,875 are the owners of country lands solely, and 6293 own both town and country land®. Th© following return shows the unimproved value of land held by freeholders, number of owners, and extent of their holdings:—

Another table classifies freeholders according to the. unimproved value of land owned by them at Ala rob 31 last. This is important in view of the increase proposed by tho Government In the graduated tax above £40,000. The figures for £IO,OOO and over are as follow :

Acres. Owners Total Acres so held. Unimproved Value. *£ 5 and under 10 8,512 23,360 708,945 10 and under 20 . 3,775 50,127 1,003,755 20 and under 00 . «! n7r» 59,811 777,202 3.0 and under 40 . 1,623 55,292 627,313 40 and under 50 . 2,106 80,634 090,780 50 and under 60 . 2,339 122,987 872,620 60 and under 70 . 1,378 86,160 617.201 70 and under 80 . 1,160 85,568 605,361 60 and under 00 . 1,314 103,558 613,905 00 and under 100 . 1.118 106.212 684,955 100 and under 200 8.740 1.216,610 6,763,126 200 and under 320 5,560 1.388,425 0,405,894 320 and under 500 3,520 1,403,814 6,340,353 509 and under 640 1.587 10,895.832 8,736.036 640 and under 1000 1,862 1,475,859 5,981,751 1000 and under 2000 1,862 2.142,807 7,963,977 2000 and under 3000 490 1,179,306 788,196 4,159,722 3000 and under 4000 277 3.550,937 4000 and under 5000 117 631,106 1,763,341 5000 and under 6009 78 424,584 1,275,599 6000 and under 7000 75 484,994 1,433,77! 7000 and under 8000 56 420,162 1,155,990 49fe,69 4 8000 and under 9000 27 228,293 9000 and under 10,000 42 397,316 810,224 10,000 and under 15,000 .... 81 984,446 2,786,463 15,000 and under 20,000 .... 48 833,116 1.882,716 20,000 and under 80.000 .... 40 1,003.816 2.182,823 30,000 and under •40,000 .... 14 474,823 948,764 40,000 and under 50.000 .... S 353.100 417,160 50,000 and under • 75,000 .... R 490,507 244,341 75,000 and under 100,000 .... 4 342.493 545,243 150,000 and over . i 223,242 240,612 Totals . . . 45,008 18,591,563 £67,288,774

No. of Total Unimproved Value. Unimproved Value. Owners. £ £10,000 to £30,000 . . 891 12,217,776 £20,000 to £50.000 . . 370 10,756,571 £30,000 to £100,000 . 85 0,612.791 £100,000 to £200,000 29. 2,852,856 £200,000 and over . i 1,016,029