The Northern Advocate THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1913. LAND SETTLEMENT.

Northern Advocate, 4 September 1913, Page 4

The Northern Advocate THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1913. LAND SETTLEMENT.

In this year's annual report of the Lands Department mention is again made of the fact that the area of Crown lands available for settlement is so rapidly shrinking that before long little, if any, will remain. From this at one time ample reservoir the State has drawn the greater part of the land required from year to year to meet the demand for settlement, but now with exhaustion of the supply fresh problems are coming within measurable distance, and these will be neither welcome to the politicians nor easy of solution. The community has in the past looked to the State to provide at least a reasonable area of land each year for occupation, and will, of .course, continue to do so. Where is this area in the future to come from? The answer is difficult. By purchase of privately owned lands the State has in previous years done something to amplify the area available for settlement, and at the same time has evaded to some extent the responsibilities of roading, imposed upon it where land in the more remote districts has been offered for occupation. But, clearly, this policy of direct purchase must in consequence of the financial obligations involved in such transactions be limited in scope. The price of land alone places in the way of purchase an impediment the State cannot lightly overcome and, in addition, gives rise to very serious anxiety in respect to the tenants and their future. There remain, of course, the native lands, but even these are now of very limited extent indeed, and can hardly be looked upon as likely to be an appreciable factor in solution of the new and more perplexing land problems opening up before the State and claiming early consideration.

The area of Crown land opened this year shows a falling off from last year's total, but this is accounted for to a large extent by the withdrawal of pastoral runs totalling 217,743 acres, the disposal of which is being held over pending proposed i legislation, with a view to improving the tenure. So far as settlement lands are concerned, this falling off occurred during the first nine months of the year, as for that period the area offered was 107,9 92 acres, whilst the figures for the last quarter alone were 218,184 acres. This increase in the area opened during the last three months of the year was mainly due to extra assistance having been provided for the necessary survey work, and to the carrying out

of instructions in July last that lands suitable for settlement should be survej r ed and made available as early as possible.

The future demand for land, says the secretary of the Department, cannot be adequately met from the areas at present belonging to the State. There are now some 4,500,----000 acres remaining for subdivision and settlement. When, however, it is realised that the first-class land in this 4,500,000 acres is not more than 100,000 acres, it will easily be understood that little provision can be made out of this area for the small settler, or the settler who desires a small holding. During past years the better class lands have been dealt with by the Department, and the stage has now been reached when only the small quantity of good land referred to above remains. Of course the second and lower grade lands will be treated and opened in suitable holdings according to the nature of the country, but in these

cases the expense of providing access will be greater in proportion than hitherto, owing to the rougher character of the lands. Naturally therefore each year in future will show a diminishing acreage of settlement lands taken from the ordinary Crown lands of the Dominion.

The • Crown lands selected during the year under all tenures totalled 968,925 acres by 2159 selectors. The principal selections were under the occupation with right of purchase and renewable lease tenures. As an indication of the popularity of the former tenure it is mentioned by the Department that out of an area of 114,834 acres disposed of in 391 holdings under the optional system 336 holdings, aggregating 102,217 acres, were taken up under the occupation with right of purchase tenure.