CROWN LANDS SETTLEMENT

Taranaki Daily News, 15 August 1929, Page 11

CROWN LANDS SETTLEMENT

DEVELOPING PUMICE AREAS. POSSIBILITIES AHEAD. Selections of Crown and settlement lands during the year which ended on March 21 last totalled approximately 462,000’ acres, according to the annual rcyjrt presented to Parliament the other day by the Lands Department. The tenants on the books of the Department under all tenures now numbered 36,702, occupying a total area of over 19,500.000 acres. Over 9,400,000 acres of the total (said the report) was represented by pastoral runs, the bulk of which was situated in the Marlborough, Canterbury-, Otago and. Southland district. The 1,822,000 acres of purchased estates were he’d under lease under the provisions of the Land for Settlement Act.

The number of selections for the year was 1911 under all headings. There was again a fair demand for small improved farms, and a brisk demand for good sheep country. “It has again been found during the past year,” added the report, “that many persons desirous of selecting Crown sections had little or no capital available, and it is, of course, difficult for the Department to place such applicants satisfactorily. Unless an applicant possesses a small amount of capital, or is In a position to raise it, it is not at present possible for tlie department to assist him in his desire to settle on the land. There are doubtless many men of sound experience who are grievously handicapped by the lack of even a small amount of capita], and it may yet be possible to devise some means of assisting these to obtain farms of their own.” The forfeitures of Crown areas under permanent tenures during the year totalled 370, of an annual value of £8096, and the surrenders 172, of an annual value of £7843. Those represented 1.819 per cent, of the number of settlers holding permanent leases and licenses. Forfeitures and surrenders ot miscellaneous and temporary leases numbered 482.

POSTPONEMENTS AND ARREARS.

Tho receipts for the year, £1,290,855, showed an increase of £19,035. Cash received on conversions of leaseholds to freehold tenures showed an increase of '£41,000. Some 317 conversions were made, 249 of them being in North Island districts. Postponements ox rent were granted to 140 tenants; involving £13,823. At Alarch 31, £125,400 remained postponed on account of 919 tenants. Arrears at Alarch 31 last amounted to £156,209, a decrease of £41,710. For prompt payment of rent 19,966 Crown tenants were granted rebates amounting to £56,989. - Tho report mentioned that a confer ence of executive officers of the Department was held in Wellington in January. Tho position in regard to abandoned farms was fully gone into with a view to so adjusting their values that they would prove attractive propositions to persons desiring to select farminglands, while the possibility of developing tho pumice lands and other undeveloped areas in various parts of the Dominion received careful consideration. The whole question of land settlement was also discussed and recommendations were framed. Following upon the conference, the Alinister requested the various Commissioners or Crown Lands to select areas of undeveloped Crown lands suitable for subdivision in their districts, and to carry out tho necessary surveys, so that settlement could be proceeded with if Parliament approved of the provision of the necessary finance. It was considered that there were in some districts large areas of unimproved land, mostly pumice and gum country, which could be profitably occupied now that the value of top-dressing for that class of land was becoming more fully understood. Alost of it was land requiring fairly close settlement, so as to allow of intensive farming of every section, and it was hoped that as a result of special investigations several blocks suitable for group settlement would be found. A topographical survey of a block in the Taupo-Rotorua district was being undertaken by tho department. When the survey had been completed the area would be developed for settle? ment to a certain extent before being opened for selection, and it was hoped to proceed on similar lines with blocks in other parts of the Dominion. That will enable the incoming tenant to obtain some return from his land from the beginning, and he would then be in a better position to proceed with the improvement of tho remainder of his section. The land concerned was at present in fern and scrub, and a good deal was ploughablo country. The success of the scheme would also largely depend upon suitable finance being provided to assist tho settlers in their farming operations. 1 —t I<l