GOVERNMENT LAND POLICY. PROGRESS OF ACQUISITION. WELLINGTON, January 3.

Otago Witness, Issue 2808, 8 January 1908, Page 34

GOVERNMENT LAND POLICY. PROGRESS OF ACQUISITION. WELLINGTON, January 3.

Interviewed to-day' by a New 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 -be" made available for settlement during January, 5 February, and March. .- These happen -to come together, safdl -Mi? M'Nab, from the fact that they, had "to wait, until the new regulations were clrarfcedl ."and "gazetted and" advertised. You will re- • member 'that some members -would- not' accept the statement made in the House that we were going on with our land- for settle* ments policy. The figures for J&e first, year's operations of the new administration appeared to support .members in thai; view. This was, however, due to tne foot that on taking office we found that scarcely anything was under way. We had practi-» oally 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 is going on vigorously. Up to December 16 last the payments were d Cash, £24-7,646; payments in transit, £53,896 ;-^tetai; £301,54-2.' In 1 addition to that there were a number of properties purchased for which payment is expected to be made before -March 31', 1903, totalling) £388.663; or a grand total, of £690,205. Besides we have properties purchased whiell will fall in after "March 31 next and properties under negotiations, so that you' can seewe are not • even working nside ' . the £500,000 granted us^ annually by Parliament under the Land -for Settlements Act.^ The new provisions, in regard t& .compulsory acquisition, under tihe'sfpaduated tax come into force at the end of March next, and I have' -met some of the owners of excess lands who have consulted me as to Ifhe provisions of. the subsidiary, roll. 'to __ get land i>ut on the subsidiary - a - valuation; (tf they are dissatisfied ** with the unimproved value, fixed as ' being too 10w.,* they can state' a figure which"- it' should be raised, "and raised- it <ia accordingly' on the subsidiary roll, but Ttot_ on fhe general rolLj The valuers will not see the subsidiary > roll. - 'It will remain here in WelKngtori,' "and will hot \be available. tig the' • rahier, - but\ kepti only under the control of -the Valuer.general. -