THE LAND PROBLEM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16642, 14 March 1916, Page 9

THE LAND PROBLEM

GALLOWAY SUBDIVISION AND LITTLE VALLEY.

As there has been a good deal of agitation on the part of Alexandra residents with regard to the subdivision of this' land, a short history of the runs and of the department's proposals will be erf interest to tile public, and the following facts have been obtained on the best authority from the Lauds Department:— When it' became necessary to decide whether the Galloway Run should be let again to the present lessee, the Classification Commissioners, in accordance with law, visited the block and made a thorough examination of the whole .area. As a result it was decided that the lease should not be renewed, but that tb<- land should subdivided. This decision was conveyed to the Minister, tuid approved o? by him. The surveyor was then inst*»cted to peg off the subdivisions, and five runs. have been laid oil. The peculiar nature of the country necessitated that an area, known locally as Littlo Valley, which is superior land, should be utilised to provide homesteads for the practical jvorking of the runs. The original lessee owned some freehold land in the same locality, and negotiations were entered into, and the department has now acquired the interest in that freehold. This area and tho balance of the Little Valley land have accordingly been laid off as already described to tit in with the subdivisions.

At the enc» on fbbruary a meeting was held in Alexandrt. under the auspices of the Alexandra of tho Expansion League, when it wtis>; stated there were at least 22 bona fide aril financial peoplo who were prepared to up small areas for fruit and closer in the valley. It was admitted at t/te meeting that tihe league had no interest in the welfare of the runs, for it was stated by one of the speakers that the runs could look after themselves, and it was eventually decided to prepare a petition to the Minister of Lands to further the object in vijw. Up to this time no application had been received at the Lands Office, but just prior to the meeting of the Land Board 15 applications were received, mainly from people in Dunedin, to be allowed to select areas ranging from 50 to 100 acres under what is known as Part VIII of " The Land Act, 1908." This particular part of the Act provides, amongst other things, that selectors must reside and make their permanent homes on the area taken up. When the applications, came before the board it was pointed out by the chairman that from a review of the 1 names it would be seen tihe applicants, except in one or two cases, appeared to be persons who would pot be likely to give up their city occupations to make homes so far out on. the Galloway Run.' In addition to this, the applications, although made under the part of the Act referred to, were not in order, and did not comply with the regulations under that part of the Act. In any case, even had they been in order, and been made by people who would presumably go out and live there, there appeared to be no reason why these people should get special preference and be allotted land without competition. If these applications were to be taken as a criterion that a number of people were anxious to secure farms, then the land should be ballot ted for, so that each one would hare a fair chance. But, as had been pointed out, the department was averse to the disposal of the land" in this maimer. A very large area of land has already been set apart for fruit-growing in this district, part of which has been subdivided, and only awaits a water supply for settlement. Taking all these circumstances into consideration, there appeared no reason why the future of the runs should be sacrificed by depriving them of the only available land suitable for homesteads when those who were seeking fruit-farms had ample opportunity of obtaining what they required much nearer to the railway. In addition to the Galloway Flat area, there were over 2000 acres set apart along the road_ leading to Ida Valley, and this will be irrigated by a race already constructed—the property of the Crown—by obtaining a supply of water from the Manorburn dam. The applications referred to were therefore declined, and when the department subsequently submitted a scheme showing how the runs were finally kid ofi, including the land at Little Valley, fhe board unanimously resolved to confirm the scheme. Energetic steps now being taken to get , out the necessary particulars for publication, and it is hoped the subdivisions of the, run will be placed on the market about April 25.