LAND SETTLEMENT

Southland Times, Issue 21273, 19 December 1930, Page 6

LAND SETTLEMENT

DEVELOPMENT SCHEMES COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW BY GOVERNMENT FRUITS ALREADY APPARENT (Per United Press Association.) ' Wellington, December 18. Sixteen blocks of land from North Auckland to Southland, with a total area of 61,000 acres, are at present under development, or arc being prepared for that purpose, according to a comprehensive reviews of its laud developmnct activities, covering the past two years, issued by the Government to-day. It is pointed out that the Government was committed to a policy of increased settlement and, in setting out the extent of the operations in hand and especially the widespread activities of the Lands Department since the passing of the amending legislation of 1929, it is emphasized that the fruits of that policy are already apparent since the passing of last year’s legislation. The Lands Development Board has advanced £58,000 to settlers for the improvement of Crown holdings. The review states that it has also authorized the 1 expenditure of £128,000 for the developmert of Crown areas prior to selection. Large areas are being brought into production and the Government’s efforts in this direction are summed up in the announcement that the total of 61,000 acres is included in 16 separate blocks, upon which attention is being directed at the moment. Rural holdings, totalling 1477, with an aggregate acreage of 572,000, have been disposed of during the two years. It is pointed out that the real test of the settlement policy was to be found in the number of rural holdings made available and the average cost per settler. The total number of holdings selected was 574 and the’ average cost per settler was £1343. It is also intended to offer a further 110 sections during December and January. For the putting into effect of its policy, the Government has purchased 48 properties with a total "area of 87,000 acres. The amount involved was £737,000 and the number of holdings made available as a result was 228. Of these, 191 holdings had already been offered, and 182 had actually been selected. In addition to the Lands Department’s activities, the Minister of Native Affairs (the Hon. Sir Apirana Ngata) has attended to comprehensive proposals for the development of native areas, his policy being to foster farming among the Maori people. A total of 30 separate schemes is stated to be in operation or under considertion in various parts of both the Nort> and South Islands. The area involved in this work is about 80,000 acres. An interesting and highly important experiment is being carried out on the Easterfield block on the West Coast of the South Island. This comprises 250 acres of Pakihi land, which is being placed under experimental cultivation. These lands have been viewed as of comparatively no value for pastoral purposes.. Researches made by the Cawthron Insititute and earlier experiments by the Department of Agriculture have shown that excellent grass land can be produced without extensive cost. Recent work by the Cawthron Institute in establishing excellent pasture by the use of lime and liberal topdressing has given • considerable promise that this land can be brought into successful operation. The cost of all the operations will be carefully recorded and checked. The value of these experiments is illustrated by- the fact that 43,000 acres land is lying idle at present.

The sum of £40,000 has been authorized for the development and been authorized for the development and reading of the Wharekohe block near Whangarei. This block comprises 3,700 acres and, in the meantime, a total of 2,000 acres will be developed. Interest attaches to the work being carried out on the Tapuwae Block near Te Kuiti. Its area is 3,350 acres, of which two thirds is unimproved milled bush land. A sum of £lO,OOO has been authorized for development work. Felling contracts have been let and 800 acres will shortly be ready for burning and felling. Operations will be carried out over 1,200 acres next year. A road is at present under construction and 300 acres are being drained. Accommodation is being made available for workers and the proposal is that a small community will be established on the block with schooling facilities for children. It is expected that the whole block will be ready for offering by 1932.

In a detailed examination of each other individual scheme, it is shown to what stage the work has advanced in each district.