LAND SETTLEMENT.

Thames Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 18409, 5 February 1932, Page 2

LAND SETTLEMENT.

WORK DURING 1931. Areas Developed. NEW FARMERS PLACED. FEWER THAN PREVIOUS YEAR. (By Telegraph—Press Association) . WELLINGTON, Feb. 5 In an interview on Crown land settlement during 1931, the Minister of Lands, the Hon. E. A. Ransom, said the number of new settlers placed on rural lands on permanent tenures was 509, the total area being 139,450 acres, as compared with 507 men and 156,186 acres, respectively, in 1930. Entirely new selections totalled 276, of 52,048 acres,, and, in addition, 24 private properties, comprising 63,261 acres, wero acquired, costing £348,792, for breaking into 225 prospective subdivisions. During the year, 85 settlers were placed on these private properties. The Minister said good progress was being made in the development of Crown land blocks, but the stage nad not yet been reached of placing’ permanent settlers on these Stateueveloped areas.

At present, development work was in progress on 11 blocks, totalling a little over 70,000 acres, of which over 31,000 acres were being developed. Twelve thousand acres have been cleared, 7800 acres cultivated, and 500 acres laid down in grass. These areas are estimated to provide 260 holdings, practically all dairying.

The number of settlers placed in 1931 on undeveloped Crown lands was 284, as compared with 345, the area being 63,701 acres, as compared with 79,531 acres in 1930.