DISCHARGED SOLDIERS' SETTLEMENTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3419, 26 September 1919, Page 41

DISCHARGED SOLDIERS' SETTLEMENTS.

OVER £700,000 ADVANCED ON

MORTGAGE, The Minister of Finance made the following reference in the Budget on the 23rd to the operations of the discharged soldiers' settlement branch of the Lands Department:

The total area proclaimed under "The Discharged Soldiers' Sttlement Act, 1915," up to March 31, 1919, was 507,890 acres, of wh'ich an area of 113,671 acres was proclaimed during the year. Possession was obtained by the Crown of 31 estates, purchased from private owners under the Land for Settlements Act, the majority of which have been subdivided and selected. In addition, the purchase of a number of other properties was completed, but possession had not been given at the close of the year. Practically all the settlement land opened during the year has been selected, and no effort has been spared to meet the keen demand for improved holdings. All classes of land which are considered to be suitable for farming by discharged soldiers are being utilised solely for this purpose, and, in addition, many pastoral runs in the South Island, the licenses of which have expired, are being subdivided and will be disposed of to soldiers experienced in this class of farming. Man\- discharged soldiers continue to take advantage cf the benefits conferred by sections 2 and 3 of " The Discharged Soldiers' Settlement Amendment Act, 1917." Under the first-mentioned section they may obtain financial assistance to acquire freehold or Crown leasehold land and to effect improvements thereon, whilst under the latter section holdings may be acquired for one or more soldier applicants through the medium of the Land Purchase Board. *

One of the features of settlement under the Act has' been the great demand for urban residential properties by soldiers who are engaged in town vocations. Up to March 31 last advances for this purpose were authorised to 529 returned soldiers amounting to £318,752. The transactions finally completed at that date involved advances amounting to £212,583. Under the provisions of section 6 of "The Discharged Soldiers' Settlement Act, 1915," and section 2 of the Amendment Act, 1917, advances have been authorised und paid as shown in the following statement:

Authorised. Paid.

Section 6, advances on current account — 900 returned soldiers £ 433,619 £337,736 Section 2, Amendment Act, 1917 : Rural lands—--265 returned soldiers 397,801 207,235 Section 2, Amendment Act, 1917: Dwellings—--529 returned soldiers 318,752 212,583 1692 returned soldiers £1,150,172 £757,554 Repayment of advances, etc. ... 35,130 Balance out on mortgage £722,424From the above statement it will be seen that the advances authorised nearly reachedthe amount of loan' which can be raised under the provision of section 8 of "The Discharged Soldiers' Settlement Act, 1915." Owing to the rapid demobilisation of troops, and' the greater expedition now shown by the Lands Department in arranging and settling transactions, the wholo of the loan authorised has since been raised, and applications have been recommended by the various land boards considerably in excess of this amount. It is anticipated that requests for financial assistance this year will be very heexvy, and provision is being made accordingly. . , It will be gathered from the above that only a restricted area of land has been made available for ordinary public selection. This comprises, generally, sections unsuitable for discharged-soldier occupation, owing to poor quality, remoteness from markets, or indifferent access. A considerable area of this class of land is still open for selection on favourable terms.