AFFORESTATION LAND

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23047, 26 May 1938, Page 20

AFFORESTATION LAND

• THE QUESTION OF PRICE. NORTH CANTERBURY SCHEME [by telegraph-—own correspondent] ' CHRISTCHURCH. Wednesday The North Canterbury Advisory Committee on Tree Planting has made a considerable advance towards iti goal of acquiring for afforestation 10,000 acres of gorse-infested land in the Ashley and Kowai foothills. The commits tee has received an offer for sale of, a block of 3800 acres of foothills land, bringing the total now offered to 4600 acres . , The chief difficulty in securing land is the maximum price" offered by the Minister of Lands, the Hon. F. LangBtone. The committee has been trying for some months to persuade the owners of gorse-infested land to reduce their price to £2 an acre, which was the Government's maximum. "Mr. Langstone has told us in writing that he wants a minimum of 10,000 acres to start the afforestation scheme," said Mr. A. Buckingham, a member of the committee, yesterday. "The Government will not pay more than £2 an acre, as it is stated that in many other districts land is being offered at a considerably lower price. Our answer to that is that this land has a very good site factor, being close to markets and to labour supplies. have been offered now approximately 4600 acres at prices not above Mr. Langstone's figure," said Mr. Buckingham. "I think we have made a very good start, and the Minister might be induced to begin the work."