BACK TO THE LAND

Southland Times, Issue 19394, 7 November 1924, Page 5

BACK TO THE LAND

SETTLEMENT IN NEW SOUTH WALES. SYDNEY, November 6. The annual report of the Department of Lands was tabled in the Assembly. It states that the area of Crown lands available and suitable for settlement is becoming each year diminishing in quantity. Therefore it has become necessary to look for private estates for any extensive closer settlement. This year's operations in respect to Crown and private lands resulted in a further 2,126,745 acres being taken up under all tenures. Under the Returned Soldiers’ Settlement Act there was a nett increase in the total area occupied of 279,909 acres in comparison with the figures of the previous year. During the year 374 soldiers were allotted farms, making a total of 81,819 since the commencement of settlement in 1916. Of that number, 1747 had transferred, forfeited, or surrendered their holdings. The land revenue for the year amounted to £1,573,000', compared with £1,581,500 the previous year. The total number of estates acquired for closer settlement to June 30 last was 1841, of an aggregate area of 3,798,493 acres, and a cost of £13,719,300. They were divided into 7707 farms.