OPENING THE LAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14159, 7 September 1909, Page 6

OPENING THE LAND.

GOVERNMENT METHODS. DEFENDED BY MR. BUDDO. Ix the course of an interview with the Hon. D. Buddo, Minister for Lands, on Sunday night, a Herald representative inquired why the Government was not pursuing a more vigorous land settlement policy. The Minister said that before replying he would like an opportunity to collect certain statistical facts. The Minister made his reply yesterday. " My answer," he said, "is that there is no reason at all to form the idea that the Government is not following progressive, methods in dealing with the land question. As a matter of fact settlement last year was considerably in excess of the two preceding years. The amount of Grown land now opened by the Auckland Land Board is 442,000 acres, representing all classes of tenures. The area of Crown lands already gazetted as open for selection from September is 19,389 acres, and for October 14,000 acres. The Auckland Land Board has also passed further lots to be opened in three months time aggregating 32,223 acres. These lots, which are just about to be gazetted, will bring the total area made available during the three months to 507,612 acres. Several important farm settlement blocks of about 30,000 acres are also being thrown open this month in the Taranaki district, and that has to be added to the figures I have already quoted." " What <=*eps are the Government taking in regard to future settlement?" the Minister was asked. "Well," said Mr. Buddo, "in addition to the small farm settlements there is being prepared for settlement north of Auckland 37,859 acres, and on the Hauraki Blaine from 15,000 to 25,000 acres. I should also liko to point out that the area settled during the past three years, irrespective of pastoral leases, was 463,000 in 1906-7, 640,000 acres in 1907-8, and 495,000 acres in 1908-9. In 1906-7 the number of settlers placed on the land was 677, exclusive of pastoral leaseholders; in 1908-9 the total number of settlers was 2047, a substantial increase on the two previous years. "Land settlement is increasing steadily throughout the Dominion, and the only regret I have is that land suitable for what is known as email settlement is rapidly diminishing. This will probably continue for a few more years. The Government's policy is to. fettle the Crown lands as quickly as possible, and with that, object in view have now more surveyors engaged in dividing land for purposes of settlement than at any previous time." The Minister referred to his inspection of the 70,000-acre block of improved farm settlement land between Raurimu and Otorohanga, which is to be opened during the present month, and expressed the opinion that the quality of the land was equal to the average of the district. The Otorohanga Block, which was to be opened in sections of 120 to 200 acres, was also suitable for small 'holdings. In respect to these, the Government had decided to advance, in monthly payments, £2 per acre for improvements and grassing, and £50 for the erection of a house, thus helping the settler during the first pinch of early settlement. i ,'.

On September 11, Mr. Buddo remarked, 13,000 acres of the Te Akau Block.would be thrown open under the optional system, while 30,000 acres would be opened under the small farm system. The Lands Department, said the Minister, had under survey 1,300,000 acres of native lands, including all the lands ..which, the Maori Councils had recommended for settlement.