CROWN PROPERTIES

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 77, Issue 6565, 13 September 1948, Page 5

CROWN PROPERTIES

LIMITED SELECTION FOR CIVILIANS THE LAND SALES ACT Land for all types of farming had been in very keen demand, and particular care had been exercised by the department to ensure that any suitable Crown properties becoming available for re-selection were offered with the minimum of delay, states the report of the Department of Lands and Survey on the settlement of Crown lands for the year ended March 31 last. The report added that opportunities for civilian selection of Crown lands had been very limited, as all suitable blocks were required for the settlement of discharged servicemen. Additional land was still being acquired and purchased for that purpose. The report stated tthat at March 31 the tenants on the books of the department numbered 34,633, occupying a total area of approximately 17,245,075 acres. Revaluations of Crown leases and licences, in terms of section 216 of the Land Act, 1924, which were suspended during the war years were now being undertaken. Up to M!arch 31 last 24 cases had been finally dealt with arid reductions in capital values totalling £29,288 approved. Applications by 14 highcountry, pastoral-run holders for a review of their annual rentals, in terms of section 277 of the Land Act, were’ also considered. In these cases reductions in rentals amounting to £1675 were approved. Arrears of rent and interest, including arrears in respect of the current half-yearly charge, totalled £123,344, while remissions for the year totalled £5601. Land Sales Act

Discussing the operation of the Servicemen’s Settlement and Land Sales Act, the report stated that applications for consent to transactions filed during the year ended March 31 last numbered 41,352, which was 5643 fewer than the total in the previous year. Rural lands accounted for 5466 applications, while those made in respect of urban properties numbered 35,886. It was considered that the present drop in applications was indicative of a return to normal conditions.

Applications disposed of during the year numbered 41,652, which was 309 more than were received. During the year 259 appeals were lodged. Sixtythree appeals were withdrawn. The reason why so many were withdrawn was explained by the fact twat for various reasons the parties concerned did not always reach a final decision by the date fixed for filing appeals. During the year there had been a considerable number of successful prosecutions for offences under the Act and substantial penalties had been inflicted in some instances. Areas Purchased

The following areas were purchased or acquired for development and for the settlement of ex-service-men up to March 31, 1948, the purchase or acquisitions for the year ended that date being given in parentheses: Purchased by voluntary negotiation, 451,391 acres (137,758 acres); acquired compulsorily under Part 11, Servicemen’s Settlement and Land Sales Act, 75,231 acres (38,465 acres), acquired compulsorily under Section 51, Servicemen’s Settlement and Land Sales Act, and capable of subdivision, 84,474 acres (25,429 acres); acquired compulsorily under section 51, single units, 29,692 acres (3597 acres); totals 640,788 acres (205,249 acres). The number of units was estimated at 1505 and 361 respectively. The number of ex-servicemen who had been established on permanent tenure or on wages, or other similar basis, with the promise of permanent tenure upon completion of the development programme and the area involved at March 31 last was as follows:—North Auckland, 59 exservicemen and 9664 acres; Auckland, 305 and 49,295; Hawke’s Bay, 35 and 26,893; Gisborne, 77 and 24,381; Taranaki, 63 and 9237; Wellington, 134 and 37,409; Marlborough, 31 and 16,453; Nelson, 12 and 1169; Canterbury, 119 and 73,965; Otago, 54 and 37,810; Southland, 50 and 18,202; totalling 939 ex-servicemen and 304,478 acres. These figures do not include ex-servicemen who have been assisted by way of rehabilitation loans to purchase established farms on their own account.