Government Land Policy.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXV, Issue 9729, 4 January 1908, Page 4

Government Land Policy.

(Pun Press Association.) Wellington, January 3. Interviewed' to-day by a Xew Zealand Times reporter regarding the Government Land for Settlements policy, the Minister of Lands said that several" estates in the North and South islands would he made available for settlement during January, February, and March. These happen to come together, said Mr M'Xab, from the fact that they had to wait until the new regulations were drafted and gazetted and advertised. You will rsmember that some niemheis would not accept the statement made in the House that we were going on with our land for settlements policy. The figures for the that year's operations of the new administration appeared to support members in tliat view. This was, however, due to the fact that on taking office we found that scarcely anything was under way. We had practicaliy to start with a clean sheet. Here are the figures up to the end of December which bear out the statement that the acquisition of land ic> going on vigorously. Lp to December 16 last the payments were :—Cash, £247,646 ; payments in transit, £53,896; total, £301,542. In addition to that there were a number of propel ties purchased for which payment is expected to be made before Malch 51, 1903, totalling £355.663; or a grand total of £590,205. liesides wo have properties purchased which will fall in after March 31 next and properties under negotiations, so that you can see we are not even working inside the £500,000 granted us annually by Parliament under the Land for Settlements Act. The newprovisions in regard to compulsory acquisition under the graduated tax come into force at the end of March next, and 1 have met some of the owners ,f excess lands who have consulted me as to the provisions of the subsidiary roll to get land put on the subsidiary roll at a special valuation, (if tney are dissatisfied with the unimproved value, fixed as being too low, they can state a figure to which it should be raised, and raised it is accordingly on the subsidiary roll, but not on the "general roll.) Tho valuers will not see the subsidiary roll. It will remain here in Weiington, and will not be available to the valuer, but kept only under the control of the Valuer-general.