LAND SETTLEMENT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21906, 15 September 1934, Page 15

LAND SETTLEMENT

PROGRESS LAST YEAR LEVEL WELL MAINTAINED RENT PAYMENTS INCREASE [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER 1 WELT.IXC,TON. Friday An increase of £277,378 in receipts from all sources, equal to 37 per cent 011 the preceding year's total, is the most notable feature of the report on the settlement of Crown Lands for the year ended March 31 last, which was presented to Parliament to-day by the Minister of Lands, the Hon. K. A. Hansom. Receipts under the Discharged Soldiers' Settlement account are not included in the computation. The improvement is attributed to the rise in wool. The area of land selected under all tenures in 1933-34 showed a slight increase over that of the preceding year, but was considerably below the prtf-de-pression level. The figures for the past four years were: —

Receipts for the past five years were:—l 929-30, £1,275,106; 1930-31, £1,005,700; 1931-32, £776,489; 1932-33, £742,820; 1933-34, £1,020,198. Rents which remained postponed at March 31 last totalled £224,164, compared with £223,253 a year earlier, and with £182,045 on March 31, 1932. Total arrears of rent at the end of the three respective years, including areas in respect of the current half-vearly charge, were:—l93l-32, £807,311; 1932-33, £1,010,979; 1933-34, £1,090,350. Remissions of rent in 1933-34 totalled £206,847, compared with £43.500 iu 1931-32. No figure was given in the report for 1932-33. "The most striking feature during the year was the sharp rise in the price of wool," states the 1933-34 report. "Unfortunately, those engaged in dairying have continued to feel the stress of economic conditions, and the prices received for cheese and butter have been most disappointing. It has, therefore, been found uecessary to continue to grant concessions to numbers of settlers to enable them to carry on, and sympathetic treatment -has been accorded to all tenants who, through no fault of their own. have lieen unable to meet their obligations. At the same time, the interests of the general taxpayer have not been overlooked, and steps have been taken to ensure that the settlers give due consideration to their commitments to the Crown. "The aim of the department has been to keep deserving tenants on their holdings, and, at the same time, steady progress lias been made with the development of suitable lanu with a view to making new areas available for selection." DEVELOPMENT WORK FIVE AUCKLAND BLOCKS THE GALATEA ESTATE [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON. Friday As in 1932-33, 110 developmental work Mas undertaken last year by the Lands Department on new blocks of Crown land, operations being confined to areas already in hand. These consisted of five estates aggregating 41,389 acres in the Auckland land district, one fti Hawke's Bay of 17,688 acres, and one in the King Country portion of the Taranaki land district of 3350 acres, making a total of 62,427 acres. The year's expenditure on development was £54,438, and on livestock £15,273. Fifty allotments, comprising 5234 acres, were disposed of at a rental capital value of £41,760. The report gives the following particulars of the five Auckland estates: — Ngakuru Block, of 14,755 acres of light pumice land, 15 miles from Botorua. This block, of which 4325 acres are being developed, will provide about 50 dairy farms. It is at present occupied by 12 share-milkers, and a demonstration farm, and 910 cows are carried. Plans to dispose of 21 dairy farms in readiness for the 1934-35 season had to be suspended on account of the uncertain outlook.

Onepu Block, of 253(3 acres of pumice land, near Te Teko, expected to provide 27 dairy farms, including 12 under the small farms scheme. The development has been outstandingly successful. The land, exclusive of buildings, has been taken up at an average value of £8 13s 3d an acre, which is sufficient to cover costs of development. Galatea Estate, of 22,326 acres, near Murupara. Twenty sections were prepared for selection during the year, but were withheld owing to economic conditions in the dairying industry. A demonstration farm was established and 10 share-milkers are being placed on the sections. The remainder of the block has been farmed by the department and carries 9935 sheep, 2856 lambs and 2181 cattle. On the year's operations there was a net profit of £4421 after charging interest on expenditure and purchase price. At March 31, 4738 acres had been grassed and extensive improvements made. The expenditure for the year was £29,164, making a total of £55,772.

Whangamarino Block, of 842 acres, near Mercer. This block has been handed over to the Small Farms Board on completion of development work. The cost an acre of clearing, cultivation, grassing, fencing and water supply for 795 acres was £lO 19s 6d. Nine settlers will be established.

Year Selections Acres 1930-31 .. 1G39 368,809 1931-32 .. 1448 406.408 1932-33 . . 1354 280,518 1933-34 .. HIS 285.166 Permanent selections of rural lands onlj- were: — Yea r Selections Acres 1931-32 . . 456 142,666 1932-33 . . 463 146,018 1933-34 . . 292 144.356 Selections of entirely new rural areas were-— Yen r Selections Acres 1981-32 . . 210 45.F09 1932-33 . . 236 46.701 1933-34 . . 132 41.260