LAND FOR FARMING

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6884, 13 April 1929, Page 12

LAND FOR FARMING

Large Areas Available STATE TO PREPARE ; SECTIONS EASING TASK OF SETTLERS A statement regarding the preparation of the Government's land settlement policy was made on Wednesday by the Minister of Lands, Hon. G. W. Forbes. He referred to the development of the group settlement idea on a block of 20,000 acres in the TaupoRotorua district, where surveys were now being made. The Minister pointed out that in the absence of Parliamentary authority no money was available at present for financing his schemes

Mr Forbes said he had visited a great portion of the Dominion and had looked into the condition and prospects of many of the Government settlements. He was very pleased to say the settlers -were "getting on their feet” and were feeling confident about the future. There were, however, some, not many, who would require further assistance, and when that was afforded the difficulties of the past would be about ended.

Financial Power Wanted With respect to the programme for the future, Mr Forbes said he had asked the commissioners of Crown lands to select areas of undeveloped Crown lands suitable for subdivision in their districts and get the necessary surveys made so that settlement could be proceeded with when Parliament approved of the necessary finance being provided. Settlement ■ was largely a matter of finance. The present position was that he had no authority to expend any money in preparing land for occupation or in making advances to settlers to assist them in making the necessary improvements in the initial stages of the breaking-in of their holdings. "Until that power is given” said the Minister, "I cannot legally assist a settler going on to an unimproved bush section, even to the extent of one shilling, which makes any attempt to settle that class of land futile. ■

"As a result of my tour of inspec tion I am satisfied there are in the Dominion hundreds of thousands of acres of unimproved land, mostly in bush and fern, which can be profitably occupied, now that the value of topdressing for that class of land is understood. It is land requiring fairly close settlement, so that the blocks will be of such a size as to allow of intense farming of the whole area, and I am hoping that as a result of the investigations now being made blocks suitable for group settlement will be found.

State to Grass the Land “ Following my visit to the TaupoRotorua district, topographical and physical surveys of a block of 20,000 acres aro being undertaken by officers of my department, two parties being detailed for the work. When that is completed the area will be in readiness for tackling for settlement. When the necessary funds are available blocks in other parts of the Dominion will be taken in hand on similar lines. I am very anxious to push on with this work, but the fact that no provision was made in the past to enable ic to be done makes some delay unavoidable.

“In re-gard to the 20,000 acre block in the Taupo district, it is my intention, after the surveys are completed and a scheme of subdivision decided upon, to hand it over to the Department of Agriculture to break in and lay down in grass a sufficient area to enable each section to comprise a portion. This will enable the settler to obtain some return from his land from ■-the beginning, and he will then be in a better position to tackle the break-ing-in of the balance of his section. The land concerned is at present in fern and scrub (and -is all easily ploughable.”