SETTLEMENT OF LAND

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17030, 15 August 1929, Page 4

SETTLEMENT OF LAND

BAY OF PLENTY AREAS INVESTIGATION BEING MADE When at Tauranga last June representations were made to the Minister of Lands, Hon. G. W. Forbes,' with a view to having opened for settlement any available areas of Crown Lands in the Lay of Plenty district. Mr. 0. E. Macmillan, M.P., who introduced the deputation at tihe time, has now received the following letter from the Minister : “I have received a preliminary report from mjr department, from which it appears that to a great extent the Crown areas are very broken and would be difficult to farm economically, owing to the small proportion of workable land, while there would also be considerable difficulty in the matter of providing suitable access. It may be possible, however, to open a few of the sections for selection within a reasonable time, and the Commissioner of Crown Lands, Auckland, is investigating the sections individually with this end in view.

“It is also porsible that some of the lands may be suitable for working in conjunction with adjoining lands, and applications from any settlers in the district for additional areas will receive due consideration.

“Apart from the Crown lands, T am advised that there is a great deal of unoccupied private land, belonging to absentees or others who are not working their properties, but my department is, of course, not in a position to meddle with this. However, if the Development League, the County Council or the Borough Council will indicate any specific sections or blocks which it is considered are capable of being successfully farmed, my officers will be pleased to look into the position with respect to the title to such areas, and to advise whether it is possible for the Crown to take steps toward furthering their settlement.”—Auckland Herald.