DEVELOPMENT SCHEME

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 55, Issue 3940, 16 August 1937, Page 5

DEVELOPMENT SCHEME

WORK FOR THE UNEMPLOYED. RECONDITIONING ABANDONED FARMS. Particulars of the areas upon which it is proposed to commence operations under the Government’s scheme for developing a number of reverted Crown securities were given by the Minister of Lands, the Hon. F. Langstone, in an interview in Wellington. As already announced by' the Prime Minister, the Government intends to make a commencement with the development of these lands with a view to augmenting its endeavours to provide for the absorption of surplus labour. HAURAKI PLAINS. “The first block, of importance,” said Mr Langstone, “is an area of 11,000 acres of Crown lands known as the Pouarua block, lying to the south of Waitakaruru and west of settled lands on the western bank of the .Piako river. RANGITAIKI PLAINS. “The next blocks are the Edgecumbe blocks of 3000 acres, Tarawera No. 2 of 800 acres, and Tarawera No. 3 ot 400 acres,” continued the Minister. “These blocks comprise Crown lands, and are situated just oft the Rangitaiki Plains, near the Tarawcra river. “Then there is the Orini block, an area of 400 acres, on the Rangitaiki Plains, in the same locality. It is proposed to drain this area. KING COUNTRY AREAS. “We have a block of 1500 acres at Raetihi," said Mr Langstone. “This is very good country and has just come to the stage when stumping can be economically handled. This is excellent work for unemployed men and we have men in the locality who are experts on the job. “Finally we have areas of from 200 to 1500 acres, aggregating 9400 acres, in the King Country, within a radius of say 30 miles from Te Kuiti, which can be brought back to production. These areas are forfeited or abandoned holdings back on the Department's hands and comprise quite good land if properly handled. We have an organisation at Te Kuiti, under Mr A. B. Jordan, superintendent of land development, to handle this class of business. Much has already been done in the King Country, and to give an idea as to how the work has progressed schemes are now carrying 28,000 sheep, 940 dairy cows, 500 breeding cows, 1005 steers and _ heifers, 149 working horses, 19 hacks and 182 Pigs."