ABANDONED FARMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20867, 8 May 1931, Page 13

ABANDONED FARMS.

PLANS FOR SETTLEMENT. A TOUR OF INSPECTION. AREAS IN THE NORTH ISLAND. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON. Thursday. With the object of inspecting abandoned farms which it is proposed to bring within the scope of the Unemployment Board's scheme for the rehabilitation of neglected properties, and also with the idea of investigating the progress being made on various State land development schemes, the Minister of Lands, the Hon. E. A. Ransom, left Wellington to-day on an extensive tour of the North Island. He will be away for about a week. Under the Unemployment Board's scheme 4C, it is proposed to place single men and unemployed farmers on properties that have been abandoned. It is desired that a start should be made with placing available men as soon as possible, and for this reason the Minister intends to visit areas that can be handled to advantage. The scheme has been prepared by the board in conjunction with the Lands and Survey Department, and it is the nrst step to place men in productive employment. Farms are to be selected from time to time by the local unemployment committees in collaboration with the Minister of Lands, and reports upon the areas are to be made by the field inspectors of the Lands Department. In addition, the Minister will visit various land development schemes, including the Galatea Estate of 22,000 acres recently purchased by the Government, upon.which there are now about 200 men employed. Another area to be visited will he the Ngakuru blocks, near Rotorua, on one of which development is almost completed. This will throw open for settlement about 1000 acres, and it is estimated that about six or eight settlers will be accommodated. The Minister will also visit the Te Kauwhata block, of 1000 acres near Mercer. Before development work was started on this property, it comprised an old wattle plantation. The Whangamarino block, of 850 acres, near Mercer, is also to be visited.