SETTLING CROWN LAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20333, 14 August 1929, Page 13

SETTLING CROWN LAND.

OPERATIONS IN PAST .YEAR.

AIDING DETERIORATED AREAS

ASSISTANCE GIVEN TO HOLDERS, [BY TELEGRAPH.— SPECIAL TiEFORTEE. ] WELLINGTON. Tuesday. "Die progress made in the settlement of Crown lands during tho year ended ou March 31 is sketched in tho annual report of Mr. J. B. Thompson, Under-Sec-retary of Lauds, which wax submitted to Parliament to-day. Selections of Crown and settlement lands during tho year totalled 462,563 acres. The tenants on tho books o£ the department under all tenures numbered 56,702, occupying a total area of over 19,500,000 acres. Over 9,400,000 acres of that total was represented by pastoral runs, the bulk of which was in the Marlborough, Canterbury, Otago and Southland districts, while 1,822,000' acres of purchased estates woro held under lease I under tho provisions of tho Land for Settlement Act. Included in tho 462,563 acres were somo 648 sections, comprising altogether an area of 116,002 acres, taken up on miscellaneous leases and licences, :.o that the selections oil permanent tenures numbered 1263 sections, covering an area of 346,561 acres. The Demand for Land.

There was again a fair demand for Mr-all improved farms and a brisk demand for good sheep country. The lands offered included the Mataikona settlement, near Castlepoiut, and the Waimaraina block, Hnwko's Bay. The former area, of some 12,932 acres, '.'.'as purchased some years ago for soldier settlement, but for various reasons has been run by the department as a going concern. The settlement was subdivided into sis sections and, offered in November last. The capital values of the sections ranged from £3OOO to £14,000. There were some 86 applications and all the sections were selected at the ballot.

The Waiinaraina block was originally purchased by ilio Crown from the native owners, subject to a lease existing at the time of purchase. This lease lately expired, thus making the land available for selection, lite block contains a total area of 3900 acres and was subdivided into sis sections. Some 200 persons lodged applications, and those who drew sections at the ballot should have little difficulty in making a success of their undertakings. Men With Little Capital. It has again been found during the past year that many persons desirous of selecting Crown sections had little or no capital available, and it is difficult for the department to place such applicants satisfactorily. Under the existing law applicants must be in a position to deposit the first haif year's rent or instalment and they must aiso satisfy the land boards that they have a reasonable prospect of being in"a position to improve the land they wish to select. Liiless. therefore, an applicant possesses a small amount of capital, or is in a position to raiye the same, it is not at present possible for the department to assist him in his desire to settle on the Land. There are doubtless many men of sound experience who ara grievously handicapped by the lack of even a small amount of capital, and it snav yet be possible to devise some means of assisting these to obtain farms of their own.

Receipts have been "veil maintained. JThe total from all sources (excluding discharged soldiers' settlement account receipts ! was £1,290,856, an increase ol £19,035 on last- year's figures. Deteriorated Lands Problem. The work of the various committees set up under the provisions of the Deteriorated Lands Act, 1925, has practically been completed. Ihe total number of applications for relief received from settlers in the various districts was 1854, of which 1825 had been dealt with,at March 31 last." In 1455 cases reductions amounting to £503.343 have been mads in capital values, involving a reduction of £23.739 in annual rents and interest payable. Mortgages have been reduced by some £51,262, some 60 cases having been dealt with under this heading. Advances totalling £24,335 have been authorised m suitable cases for tho purchase of fencing materials, limo and manures, while remissions of rent have been granted on a liberal basis, on conditions providing that an equivalent amount is expended on improvements. Use ol Undeveloped Land.

The report refers to the proposals of the Government to open areas of undeveloped land under a special schema 1 of State "assistance. A topographical survey of a block in the Taupo-Rotorua district is being undertaken by the department. When the survey has been completed the area will be developed for settlement to a certain extent _ before being opened for selection and it is hoped to proceed on similar Hues with blocks in other parts of the Dominion. A separate report, made in pursuance of the Laud for Settlement Act, 1925, was also presented. The report said some 245 properties wcro during the yearj but no purchases of 'importance were made. Several important purchases, including that of the Wextella Estate, near I"eliding, have lately been made, but as these do not come within the financial year ending on March 31 they are not discussed in this report. No purchases were completed during the year under the provisions of the Land Laws Amendment Act, 18Z3. which deals with the acquisition of private land on the group .system and provides machinery whereby any two or more persons may purchase laud bought by the Crown on their behalf. However, a purchase has been completed since the close of the year, and as numerous inquiries arc being received it is anticipated that the system will, where the circumstances arc favourable, bo availed of to a considerable extent.