SETTLEMENT OF LAND

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 18975, 27 March 1936, Page 8

SETTLEMENT OF LAND

CROWN AREAS RESTRICTED MINISTER STATES POLICY Reference to the Government's land settlement policy "was inade by the .Minister of Lands, the Hon. F. L&iigstone. "Britain is pledged {6 a policy of settling her lands and producing locally an increased amount of her food requirements," he said. "Such being the case, we in New Zealand must mould our accordingly, urid by a process of guaranteed prices will keep on the land the men who are already there, and step by step add to their number as time and circumstances permit."

There were under the various leases issued by the Lands and Survey Department 19,000,000 acres of Crown land and only 1,800,000 acres remained for future disposal, the Minister continued. Unfortunately a greater proportion of that latter area, was not suitable for settfemdnt. That position was a contrast to that obtaining during Sir John Mackenzie':? term of office, when probably 17,000,000 acres of Crown land were available.

However, it was the policy of the Government to settle as rapidly as possible all the suitable lands available for disposal, and to give first attention to those areas which were situated close to markets and which were already supplied with good roads, educational facilities and other reasonable amenities.