TE AKAU LANDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14209, 4 November 1909, Page 6

TE AKAU LANDS.

A "WILD STATEMENT" DENIED. [BT telegraph.— correspondent.] Wellington, Wednesday. The Minister for Lands (Sir Joseph Ward) was asked to-day by Mr. Stallwoithy whether he had noticed a statement that one of the purchasers of a section in the recent sale of lands in the Te Akau Block was offered £200 on his .purchase before he left the saleroom, an! that a second purchaser had been offered £700 on his purchase and was reported to be seJ,'ing, and, if so, whether he would take steps to prevent the sale of the Crown lands of the Dominion at such absurdly low prices, as must have been accepted In these cases. The reply was as follows:—"Such a wild statement as that referred to has no doubt been .made by a disappointed applicant and cannot have much force. The Crown Jands in Te Akau Block were not offered at absurdly low prices, but the capital values were chiefly between £2 10s per, acre and £8 per acre, in only three cases being lower than £2 per acre, and, as showing the great difference of opinion that exists as to the values of the b.'ock, it may be mentioned that prior to the ballot it was reported in the newspapers that the prices were too high. It may fairiy be assumed, therefore, that the prices fixed by the Crown were just and satisfactory to all parties. It must also be remembered that under the present law no applicant can transfer his lease until he has resided on his holding for two years and effected the prescribed improvements."