GALATEA STATION

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17472, 22 January 1931, Page 6

GALATEA STATION

COST £4 lOg AN ACRE

GOVERNMENT'S INTENTIONS

(Per Press Association.)

WELUNQTON, last night. Further reference' to the purchase by the State of Gala"tea station of 22,325 acres in' the Bay of Plenty was made by the Minister of Lands, Hon. E. A. Ransom, to-day in discussing criticism of. the fact that no purchase price, had been mentioned in the ' original announcement. Mr. Ransom, who stated' that the price paid' for the block was £IOO,OOO, or slightly under £4 lQs-an acre, also touched upon the preliminary work that would be necessary and tho cost of development.' *. • '.'• • '. : ■ "My attention," ho said, "has been drawn to a reference in a subleader in yesterday'? issue of the Dominion to the effect that, in making its announcement in connection with the purchase of' Galatea station for devel6pment, arid sottler ment purposes, no reference was made by the Government to the price paid for the property. The omission was not deliberate and, in the ordinary course, full particulars, in connection With the purchase will be laid oh tho fable, of the Hofifje. I may state, however, that, after protracted negotiations, 22;525 a'cres were : secured at slightly under £4,10s an acre.

DEVELOPMENT- WOiRK.

"The extent of-jthcv'. development work £afi^bs'ys";fwjti as it will be dMrl&le ib 'test f out whether or not top-dressing of the existing postures will be sufficient to bring them up to dairying standard or whether it will be necessary to carry out a considerable'amount 1 of ploughing and re-sowing. There will be a considerable amount of boundary and subdjvisfonal fencing to be done and in this connection, posts and battens will _be secured from, the Govertjmejit reserves in the vicinity. . Scrubcutting, .burning, and.sowing will also require to be carried out oyer a considerable portion of the blocks, together with cleaning existing drains anft an extension of the drainage system. '' The property comprises a considerable extent of rich riVer deposit country, portions of which are covered* by a strong growth: of Tushes, which is a clear indication of the good character of the land. These rushes Will require to bo removed, and the tarid ploughed and sown down in good English grasses.

"It will be seen, thereforo, that, at tjiis early stage, it is not competent to give an approximate estimate. of the cost per acre of the development wo/k, but,, as the land has been purchased at the low price of £4 10a an acre, and is capable of development into dairying country, a considerable margin exists to meet the cost of such work., 'As-Minister of Lands,'it is my definite Moiftion to carry out an acjive policy of; making provision for ou* people" to go on the land as genuine producers father than as relief workers on unproductive projects."