DOMINION “COMBED”

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 302, 21 December 1931, Page 5

DOMINION “COMBED”

Land in Small Areas Needed for Development. A GOOD DEAL TAKEN UP. (Special to the “ Star.”) AUCKLAND, December 21. The small areas of Crown lands in New Zealand which are capable of development have practically all been taken up, stated Mr W. Robertson, Under-Secretary of the Department of Lands and Survey, in a letter received by the council of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce. m Mr Robertson said the Department had long been alive to the need of developing every acre of Crown land suitable for cultivation, and in 1929 legislative authority given for developmental work on a large scale and for the granting of financial assistance to enable settlers to improve their holdings. “ The whole of New Zealand has been combed for larger areas for development in blocks,” continued Mr Robertson, ‘‘ and the Department is actively engaged on a number of these, while consideration is being given to the question of extending operations to the remaining blocks. If a block is shown to be capable of bearing the full cost of development by the ordinary means the Unemployment Board is consulted, with a view to carrying out the scheme as a relief work, provided the land when developed will be capable of supporting one or more settlers or families.” The chamber decided to ask for information as to how much Crown land was capable of development, which could be economically worked, and where it is situated.