LAND FOR SETTLEMENTS ACT, 1925 (REPORT ON THE)

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1929 Session I, C-05

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1929. NEW ZEALAND.

LAND FOR SETTLEMENTS ACT, 1925 (REPORT ON THE)

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly pursuant to Section 109 of the Land for Settlements Act, 1925.

The Land Purchase Controller to the Hon. the Minister of Lands. Sir, — Department of Lands and Survey, Wellington, Ist July, 1929. I have the honour to submit a report on land-purchase operations for the year ended 31st March, 1929. Some 245 properties were considered during the year, but no purchases of particular importance were made. A large number of the properties offered were, from the descriptions, deemed to be unsuitable from the outset; but in many cases full reports were obtained and the offers thoroughly investigated. An area of 253 acres at Rehia was acquired for the purpose of providing additional land for three soldier settlers. The farms held by these men were national-endowment land, and the area purchased was therefore declared to be national-endowment land also by Proclamation issued pursuant to section 49 of the Land for Settlements Act, in order that proper leases might be issued covering both the old and the additional areas. Portion of the Rhodes Estate at Owenga, Chatham Islands, comprising an area of 97 acres, was acquired during the year. This purchase had been under negotiation for some considerable time, its object being to provide home-sites of a few acres each for the fishermen at Owenga. The area has been subdivided into some twenty-one allotments, which will be offered for sale for cash or on deferred payments. It is anticipated that this subdivision will meet a long-felt want by enabling the fishermen to obtain home-sites with sufficient land for gardens and the running of a horse or cow. Several important purchases, including that of the Westella Estate, near Feilding, have lately been made ; but as these do not come within the financial year ending on the 31st March last they are not discussed in this report. No purchases were completed during the year under the provisions of Part II of the Land Laws Amendment Act, 1928, which deals with the acquisition of private land on the group system, and provides machinery whereby any two or more persons may purchase land bought by the C rown on their behalf. However, a purchase has been completed since the close of the year, and as numerous inquiries are being received it is anticipated that the system will, where the circumstances are favourable, be availed of to a considerable extent. As stated in the annual report on the settlement of Crown lands, a conference of executive officers of the Lands Department, presided over by the Hon. G. W. Forbes, Minister of Lands, was held in Wellington in January. At this conference the question of closer settlement under the Land for Settlements Act was fully discussed, and recommendations were submitted for the Government's consideration. It is considered that an appreciable addition to settlement can be made in areas already occupied, and it is hoped to pursue an active policy in the purchase of suitable properties by negotiation or otherwise. Preference will be given to properties suitable for subdivision for dairying or mixed farming. The Mataikona Settlement, near Castlepoint, which has been run as a going concern by the Department for some years, was subdivided into six holdings, end offered for selection in November last. All the sections were taken up at the ballot. Tables are attached giving particulars of the properties considered and lands acquired during the year, together with balance-sheets and statements of receipts and payments. I have, &c., J. B. Thompson, The Hon. the Minister of Lands. Land Purchase Controller.

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Table A. —Number of Properties considered during the Year ended 31st March, 1929.

Table B. —Summary of Estates acquired up to the 31st March, 1929.

Table C. —Return of Land purchased and paid for from 1st April, 1928, to 31st March, 1929.

I J . Land District. Number. re^jjg^j ateS ! Land District. Number. Acr6s ' Acrss North Auckland .. 29 80,443 Nelson .. .. 6 8,823 Auckland .. .. 44 81,109 Westland .. .. 4 3,335 Gisborne .. .. ® 10,792 Canterbury .. .. 40 84,657 Hawke's Bay .. .. 15 41,279 Otago .. .. 19 29,551 Taranaki .. .. 14 16,851 Southland .. .. 18 15,970 Wellington .. .. 4-6 50,997 Marlborough .. .. 4 j 13,336 i Totals .. 245 437,143

Land District. Number. \ Area. Purchase-money. L__ Acres £ Auckland (including North Auck- 100 392,392 1,547,501 land) Hawke's Bay (including Gisborne) 63 311,436 2,357,100 Taranaki .. .. .. 25 27,628 369,818 Wellington .. .. .. 147 158,729 2,254,218 Marlborough .. .. .. 22 224,090 755,482 Nelson .. .. *.. 14 48,821 150,473 Westland .. .. .. 2 5,125 8,343 Canterbury .. .. .. 173 447,597 3,444,757 Otago .. .. .. 73 293,188 1,779,317 Southland .. .. .. 26 90,862 459,916 Totals .. .. 645 1,999,868 13,126,925

Name of Owner. | Locality. Ac^^n . Settlement. Area. £ Acres. £' Burnett, A. (estate of late) , , Timaru .. 8 By agreement Rosewill .. .. 1J 10 Langstaff, E. T. .. .. Lower Hutt .. ,, Hutt Valley .. 1 1,200 Finlayson, J. (estate of late) .. Rehia .. 5 „ Finlayson .. .. 253 1,265 Rhodes Estate .. .. Owenga, Chat- 15 „ Owenga .. .. 97 1,455 ham Islands Grace, Dr. M. S. (estate of late) Gracefield .. .. ,, Hutt Valley .. 1 20 Totals .. 353J 3,950

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LAND FOE SETTLEMENTS ACCOUNT. Receipts and Payments Account fob the Year ended 31st Match, 1929. Receipts. Payments. £ s. d. To Balance, Ist April, 1928 — £ s. d. £ s. d. By Land-for-settlements expenses (vote) .. 2,152 13 6 Cash in Public Account .. 6,277 5 3 Acquirement of estates .. .. .. 3,951 3 9 Investment Account .. 180,325 0 0 Cost of development of Hutt Valley lands .. 53,(350 8 7 186,602 5 3 Road access to settlements, cost of surveys, &c. 6,790 15 11 Recoveries on account of expenditure of pre- Administration expenses .. .. .. 10,268 11 7 vious years .. .. .. .. 55 10 10 Recoupments to Discharged Soldiers SettleRents and royalties .. .. .. 388,066 19 8 ment Account in respect of amount added Sales of settlement land .. .. .. 59,353 14 3 to capital value of land under section 20, Interest on sales of settlement land .. 19,444 11 11 Discharged Soldiers Settlement Amendment Sales of Crown land .. .. .. 57,462 19 0 Act, 1923 .. .. .. .. 4,999 3 2 £ s. d. Expenditure under section 83 (3), Land Act, Interest on sales of Crown land 409 19 11 1924 (payment in respect of value of imLess refunds and adjustments 1,838 17 1 provements) .. .. .. .. 48 17 2 — Dr. 1,428 17 2 Interest under section 208 (8), Land Act, 1924 168 4 9 Buildings .. .. .. .. 598 0 3 Payments under section 49 (4), Land for Receipts under section 208, Land Act, 1924, Settlements Act, 1925 (amount appropriated on account of capital value of land .. 407 14 2 from sale of Crown land in payment of Te Wera Farm Account — sales of stock, settlement land converted into Crown land) 88 3 2 wool, &c. .. .. .. .. 10,284 10 8 Payments under section 105, Land for SettleReceipts under section 11 (2) (a), Hutt Valley ments Act, 1925, in respect of Crown lands Land Settlement Act, 1925 .. .. 98,500 0 0 proclaimed land-for-settlements land .. 441 11 6 Amounts received in respect of settlement Purchase of land for the Tupua Domain land converted into ordinary Crown land Board (Reserves and other Lands Disposal or national-endowment land (section 49, Act, 1926, section 3 (2) ) .. .. 480 0 0 Land for Settlements Act, 1925) .. 583 3 2 Payment to Public Trustee of proceeds from Interest on investments .. .. .. 11,545 6 5 sale of Waihi Domain (Reserves and other Rangitikei County Council, on account of Lands Disposal Act, 1926, section 10 (3) ).. 1,000 0 0 Turakina Domain Board (Reserves and Reclamation work at Kohukohu (Reserves other Lands Disposal Act, 1927, sec- and other Lands Disposal Act, 1927, section 25 (2)) .. .. .. .. 317 3 1 tion7) .. .. .. .. 258 14 0 Transfer from Native Land Settlement Ac- Payment of interest under section 13, Land count of moneys expended in opening up Laws Amendment Act, 1926, on proceeds land for settlement .. .. .. 218,628 19 2 from sales of.Crown land .. .. 110,804 19 0 Transfer of the unexpended balance of moneys To Wera Farm Account .. .. .. 8,875 5 6 set aside under section 47, Land for Settle- Stamp duty on transfers of New Zealand ments Act, 1925 .. .. .. 8,698 5 4 consolidated stock .. .. .. 6 11 7 Miscellaneous —Recovery of expenditure on Interest on debentures .. .. .. 339,369 4 3 isstates, &c. .. .. .. .. 589 7 9 Management charges of New Zealand consolidated stock .. .. .. 324 7 5 Recoupment to Ordinary Revenue Account of amount charged thereto for reduction of funded debt .. .. .. .. 513 18 8 Amortization of debt— £ s. d. Debentures redeemed at maturity .. .. 100 0 0 Securities redeemed and cancelled before maturity 218,600 0 0 — 218,700 0 0 Charges and expenses of raising loans .. 2.90 Balance at 31st March, 1929 — £ s. d. Cash in Public Account .. 32,752 0 3 Imprests outstanding .. 1,512 11 0 Investment Account .. 262,550 0 0 296,814 11 3 £1,059,709 13 9 £1,059,709 13 9 Revenue Account foe the Year ended 31st March, 1929. Dr. £ s. d. Or. £ s. dj To Administration expenses .. .. .. 9,728 13 5 By Rents, &c. .. .. .. .. 414,441 5 6 Charges and expenses of raising loans .. 2 9 0 Interest on sales.. .. .. .. 16,965 311 Depreciation of plant .. .. .. 196 1 6 Interest on capital expenditure— £ s. d. Insurance premiums, &c. .. .. .. 7 11 4 Hutt Valley .. .. 9,452 8 3 Interest on loans .. .. .. 313,812 14 4 Te Wera .. .. 4,301 1 4 Interest under section 13, Land Laws Amend- 13,753 9 7 ment Act, 1926 .. .. .. 67,533 14 1 Interest on investments .. .. 12,238 13 10 Interest under section 208, Land Act, 1924.. 242 3 3 Interest on investments in Public Debt ReIrrecoverable rents, &c., transferred to demption Fund .. .. .. 48,908 5 8 Suspense Account .. .. .. 10,625 411 Miscellaneous .. .. .. .. 182 11 9 Management charges on New Zealand consolidated stock .. .. .. 324 7 5 Rebates, rents, and interest .. .. 35,261 10 10 Remissions of rents, &c. .. .. .. 5,378 15 9 Remissions and rents written off under Deteriorated Lands Act, 1925 .. .. 3,625 19 7 Remissions and rents written off by Revaluation Board .. .. .. .. 4,793 1 0 Stamp duty on transfers of consolidated stock 6 11 7 Land-for-settlements vote expenses—£ s. d. Audit fees .. .. 45 0 0 Access and improvements to settlements .. .. 543 10 0 Preliminary expenses .. 40 13 0 Salaries .. .. 1,000 0 0 Travelling-expenses .. 157 18 0 —— — 1,787 1 0 Balance carried down .. .. .. 53,163 11 3 £506,489 10 3 £506,489 10 3 £ s. d. £ s. d. To Adjustment on account of previous years .. 36 0 0 By Balance brought down .. .. .. 53,163 11 3 Balance transferred to Reserve Account .. 53,127 11 3 £53,163 II 3 £53,163 11 3

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LAND FOB SETTLEMENTS ACCOUNT—continued. Balance-sheet as at 31st March, 1929. Liabilities. Assets. Capital— £ s. d. £ s. d. Land— £ s. d. £ s. d. Loan Account .. .. 8,168,965 14 I Leased .. .. 8,484,501 8 4 Crown land included in Unleased .. .. 214,258 5 5 estates .. .. 208.428 0 0 8,698,759 13 9 Sales of Crown lands .. 2,014,959 13 4 Unpaid purchase price (not yet payable)— 10,392,353 7 5 Buildings .. .. 74,895 18 10 Less amount expended in Sales of settlement land .. 415,008 15 8 opening up land for Sales of Crown land. .. 277,691 14 3 settlement .. .. 647,528 1 5 — 767,596 8 9 9,744,825 6 0 Hutt Valley estates — Deposits by lessees of Crown land under sec- Purchases .. .. 162,812 17 1 tion 208, Land Act, 1924 .. .. 7,853 0 3 Roading and incidental Sundry creditors — expenses .. .. 175,927 10 2 Interest on loans — £ s. d. Interest .. .. 36,226 7 5 Due and unpaid .. 1,036 0 0 Accruod but not due .. 64,917 9 3 374,966 14 8 ■ Less receipts, section 11 65,953 9 3 (2) (a) Hutt Valley Interest under section 13, Land Settlement Act, Land Laws Amendment 1925 .. .. 193,866 11 5 Act, 1926 .. .. 7,533 14 1 181,100 3 3 Departmental .. .. 1,165 17 1 Te Wera Estate —Stock, inplcinents, &c. .. 18,881 14 1 Miscellaneous .. .. 940 3 11 Plant and machinery .. .. .. 3,872 10 0 • 75,593 4 4 Furniture .. .. .. .. 27 0 0 Payments in advance — Mechanical office appliances .. .. 23 0 0 Insurance premiums .. 10 2 Sundry debtors — £ s. d. Interest on sales of Crown Rents, <fce. .. .. 74,855 14 7 land .. .. 17 1 8 Less reserve .. .. 2,500 0 0 Interest on sales of settleland .. .. 483 8 2 72,355 14 7 Rents .. .. 4,285 18 4 Interest on sales of Crown Principal instalments on land .. .. 981 18 3 buildings .. .. 160 2 8 Interest on sales of settlePrincipal instalments on ment land .. .. 2,905 12 9 sales of Crown land .. 1,891 0 5 Principal instalments on Principal instalments on buildings .. .. 2,967 2 1 sales of settlement land 2,384 2 5 Principal instalments on 9,222 13 10 sales of Crown land .. 7,180 7 6 Amount held under Reserves and other Lands Principal instalments on Disposal Act, 1927, section 25 (2) —Turakina sale of settlement land 5,067 13 6 Domain .. .. .. .. 317 3 1 Departmental .. .. 3,319 8 1 Rents, &c., charged in advance .. .. 105,256 11 5 Miscellaneous .. .. 3,172 9 6 Depreciation—Reserve, plant, &c. .. .. 1,372 10 6 97,950 6 3 Reserve Account, including unexpended load- Postponements .. .. .. .. 56,501 3 4 ing for roads .. .. .. .. 1,277,640 8 6 Interest accrued but not due— Writings-off in Suspense .. .. .. 7,541 15 4 Investments .. .. 3,447 1 2 Accumulated revaluation losses written off under Licenses under deferredsection 22, Finance Act, 1927 (No. 2), by payment system .. 5,382 10 1 discharge of liabilities — 8,829 11 3 Interest due on liability to Outstanding rents, &c., Suspense .. .. 7,541 15 4 Consolidated Fund for £ s. d. Accumulated revaluation losses, written off loans redeemed .. 32,688 0 0 under section 22, Finance Act, 1927 (No. 2), Consolidated Fund, for as per contra .. .. .. .. 808,185 0 1 loans redeemed .. 115,900 0 0 Investment in Public Debt Redemption Fund 1,091,724 16 0 Reserve .. .. 659,597 0 1 £ s. d. 808,185 0 1 Cash in Public Account .. 32,752 0 3 Imprests outstanding .. 1,512 11 0 Investments Account .. 262,550 0 0 296,814 11 3 £12,037,807 13 4 £12,037,807 13 4 J. B. Thompson, Under-Secretary for Lands. J. H. O'Donnell, Controller of Accounts.

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LAND FOR SETTLEMENTS—DISCHARGED SOLDIERS SETTLEMENT ACCOUNT. Receipts and Payments Account fob the Year ended 31st March, 1929. Receipts. Payments. £ s. d. To Balance at Ist April, 1928— £ s. d. £ s. d. By Administration expenses .. .. .. 1,982 8 0 Cash in Public Account . . 6,889 18 3 Land for settlement of discharged soldiers— Investment Account .. 45,000 0 0 Vote, " Expenses " .. .. .. 1,356 8 2 51,889 18 3 Land Laws Amendment Act, 1927, secReceipts— tion 20, Discharged Soldiers Settlement Rents, &c. .. .. 79,209 4 1 Amendment Act, 1923, section 20 (4) — Sales .. .. .. 2,448 12 5 Amount recouped to Discharged Soldiers Interest on sales.. .. 821 17 5 Settlement Account in respect of amount Miscellaneous .. .. 209 7 8 added to capital value of land . . . . 5,477 17 82,689 1 7 Payment in respect of Crown land proclaimed Section 49 (2) and (3), Land for Settlements land-for-settlement land under section 105, Act, 1925 —Amount received in respect of Land for Settlements Act, 1925 .. .. 1,271 0 0 settlement lands converted into national- Road access to settlements .. .. 2,635 2 7 endowment land .. .. . . 755 16 6 Public Revenues Act, 1926, section 139— Interest on securities and investments .. 2,179 6 5 Interest recouped to Consolidated Fund . . 79,800 0 0 Credits in aid —Vote, " Land for settlement of Amortization of debt—Securities redeemed discharged soldiers' expenses" . . . . 12 10 0 and cancelled . . .. . . .. 45,000 0 0 Balance at 31st March, 1929 —Cash in Public Account .. .. .. .. 3 16 9 £137,526 12 9 £137,526 12 9 Revenue Account for the Year ended 31st March, 1929. Dr. £ s. d. Or. £ s. d° To Administration expenses .. .. .. 2,005 11 3 By Accrued rents, &c. .. .. .. 80,258 15 8 Improvements to settlements (vote, " Ex- Accrued royalties .. .. .. 8 10 penses") .. .. .. .. 1,268 8 2 Interest on sales .. .. .. 1,010 4 6 Interest on loans .. .. .. 79,242 1 7 Interest on investments .. .. .. 1,119 12 2 Irrecoverable rents, &c. .. .. .. 5,305 7 7 Interest allowed on sinking fund contributions 1,301 6 1 Losses under Deteriorated Balance carried down .. .. 16,406 7 1 Lands Act, 1925— £ s. d. Remissions of rent .. 609 14 10 Rents written off . . 932 12 10 1,542 7 8 Losses consequent upon determination of Dominion Revaluation Board— Remissions of rent .. 1,522 17 4 Rents written off .. 666 8 10 2,189 6 2 Rebates .. .. .. .. 5,786 0 9 Remissions of rent .. .. .. 2,765 3 4 £100,104 6 6 £100,104 6 6 £ s. d. £ s. d. To Balance brought down .. .. .. 16,406 7 1 By Accumulated revenue loss written oS under Balance from previous year .. .. 223,797 6 8 section 22, Finance Act, 1927 (No. 2) .. 223,797 6 8 Adjustment on account of previous years .. 5,401 4 0 Balance transferred to Reserve Account .. 21,807 11 1 £245,604 17 9 £245,604 17 9

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LAND FOB, SETTLEMENTS—DISCHATGED SOLDIERS SETTLEMENT ACCOUNT—continued. Balance-sheet as at 31st March, 1929. Liabilities. A sscls. Capital Account — £ s. d. £ s. d. Land— £ s. d. £ s. d. Debenture Account .. 3,077,050 0 0 Leased .. .. 1,693,430 0 10 Crown lands in estates .. 1,712 0 0 Unleased .. .. 31,377 2 3 ■ — 1,724,813 3 1 3,078,762 0 0 Unpaid purchase price (not Less capital reductions yet payable)— under section 22, Fi- Land .. .. 18,615 16 0 nanee Act, 1927 (No. 2) 1,138,600 0 0 Buildings .. .. 66,593 13 0 1,940,162 0 0 85,209 9 0 Sundry creditors — Sundry debtors — Interest accrued but not Rents .. .. 24,009 2 2 due on loans .. 10,641 2 7 Less reserve for irrecoverMiscellaneous .. .. 515 6 4 able rents .. .. 1,500 0 0 11,156 8 11 Payments in advance — 22,509 2 2 Rents .. .. 1,373 12 1 Principal instalments on Principal instalments on buildings .. .. 919 0 11 buildings .. .. 48 14 5 Principal instalments on Principal instalments on sales of land . . .. 329 3 8 sales of land .. . . 306 15 4 Interest on sales of land 298 19 2 1,729 1 10 Interest on purchase price, Rents charged in advance .. .. .. 19,583 12 4 Mataikona Estate .. 22,787 8 8 Writings-off in Suspense .. .. .. 5,156 18 0 Consolidated Fund for overReserve .. .. .. .. .. 81,615 19 9 paid interest .. 129 8 6 Accumulated losses written off under section 22, Miscellaneous .. .. 22 15 6 Finance Act, 1927 (No. 2)— 46,995 18 7 Remissions of interest due £ s. d. Postponements outstanding— to Consolidated Fund .. 547,857 7 10 Rent .. .. .. 37,130 17 5 Reduction of Capital Ac- Principal instalments on count .. .. 1,138,600 0 0 buildings .. .. 713 17 7 Reserve Account (as per Interest on sales .. 64 11 5 contra) .. .. 117,891 8 1 37,909 6 5 1,804,348 15 11 Interest accrued but not due on sales of land.. 272 15 4 Losses in Suspense .. .. .. 5,156 18 0 Depreciation in land-values, &c. .. .. 125,208 14 8 Accumulated losses written off under section 22, Finance Act, 1927 (No. 2) — Revenue Account—Loss to £ s. d. ' 31st March, 1928 .. 513,149 3 9 Depreciation in land-values 175,906 8 5 Revaluation Board reductions (as per contra) .. 1,115,293 3 9 1,804,348 15 11 Investment in Public Debt Redemption Fund 33,833 19 0 Cash in Public Account .. .. .. 3 16 9 £3,863,752 16 9 £3,863,752 16 9 J. B. Thompson, Under-Secretary for Lands. J. H. O'Donnell, Controller of Accounts.

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