SERVICEMEN’S FARMS

Southland Times, Issue 25669, 11 May 1945, Page 8

SERVICEMEN’S FARMS

BALLOTS TO BE HELD THIS MONTH

Thirty-one farming units for the settlement of ex-servicemen are to be made available by ballot towards the end of this month. These units, nine of which are in the South Island and 22 .n the North Island, will be allocated on a Crown leasehold basis with the assistance of the Rehabilitation Board. On some of them, large properties which have been subdivided for the purpose of serviceman settlement, the successful applicant will be employed on the board’s scale of wages in preparing the land for productive farming. When that stage has been reached they will be able to take over the leases and work the farm on their own account. In all cases only men graded A by their rehabilitation committees for either dairy, sheep, agricultural or mixed farming will be considered. An alternative known as the Bryant tenure is offered to servicemen who do not wish to enter into a straight-out renewable leasehold. This amounts to an agreement for sale and purchase under Section 16 of the Land Laws Amendment Act 1944. In such case the purchase price for the land shall be the total of the rental value, plus the value of the improvements at the ordinary concession rate of interest to exservicemen, with the restriction that no transfer of the title or lease can be made without the consent of the Minister of Lands. PREBBLETON PROPERTY All of the nine units in the South Island are in the Canterbury land district. To be allocated to a man competent in sheep and agricultural farming is a property of 264 acres in the Prebbleton area about 10 miles from Christchurch. Described as flat, easily cultivated land, it has a carrying capacity of 400 ewes, with commercial crops. The lessee will be required to purchase his stock from a flock already on the ground. There is a dwelling on the property. Situated between the Hinds and Rangitata rivers, some 16 miles from Ashburton, is the Pineview farm settlement. This typical Mid-Canterbury Plains country has been subdivided into six sections, five of which are offered to ex-servicemen. It is all suitable for sheepfarming and stock fattening. On three of them there are dwellings, but in the remaining two these have not yet been erected. On these latter two, of 689 acres and 691 acres respectively, the future settlers will be obliged to work till the development programme has been completed. Wages are at the rate of £5/10/- a week, plus 10/- cost of living allowance. When the development work is complete the sections will be valued on a productive basis, and this the applicant will have the option of accepting. An army hut with cooking facilities is available as a temporary residence on each of the sections. The carrying capacity of both is over 750 ewes, with supporting fat lambs or ewe hoggets. OTHER UNITS Also to be developed on a wage basis by the future soldier settlers are three units, being the result of subdivision in the Mount Harris farm settlement, comprising 1238 acres of sheep country. Most of this is easy to steep downs suitable for fattening lambs and growing wheat and other agricultural crops. The sections have areas of 488 acres, 355 acres and 395 acres respectively, and are capable of carrying from 500 to 600 ewes, with a few cattle. When the leaseholds are finally fixed, the incoming servicemen tenants will be required to take over the stock and plant at valuation. There is permanent accommodation on one section only, but temporary dwellings are being provided on the other two, and later permanent housing and outbuildings.