LAND FOR SETTLEMENTS ACT, 1925 (REPORT ON THE).

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1930 Session I, C-05

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1930. 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, 1930. I have the honour to submit a report on land-purchase operations for the year ended 31st March, 1930. Some 804 offers of estates were considered, and twenty-four properties were purchased during the year. The total area acquired was 46,040 acres, and the amount paid out £438,994. Included in the purchases were four properties, totalling 1,115 acres, acquired on behalf of approved applicants under the provisions of Part II of the Land Laws Amendment Act, 1928. The large number of offers received threw a great volume of work upon the Department. Special reports were obtai/ied in a majority of cases, but a number of offers were so obviously unsuitable that inspections of the properties concerned were not arranged. In all cases every care has been taken to safeguard the interests of the Crown, and the Land Purchase Board is confident that the purchases so far made are sound both with regard to the price paid and the quality and general adaptability of the land concerned. Thirteen settlements were opened for general application during the year, the number of subdivisions being ninety-two, and the total area 17,434 acres. Full particulars regarding these properties will be found in the annual report on the settlement of Crown lands. More attention is being paid by persons seeking moderate-sized areas of good land to the provisions of Part II of the Land Laws Amendment Act, 1928, under which two or more prospective settlers may, by arrangement with the owner, apply to the Government to purchase a property on their behalf for subdivision amongst them. If such a transaction is approved, each applicant is required to deposit 5 per cent, of the cost of his subdivision, the balance being arranged by means of a long-term deferred-payment license with interest at h\ per cent. This method provides an excellent system of finance, and in addition gives the settler the advantage of choosing his own land. During the year under review some thirty-one properties were offered under these provisions, the total area concerned being 111,329 acres. Fifteen offers were declined for various reasons, the purchase of seven properties was approved, and nine cases were still under consideration at the 31st March. The total area of the approved properties was 2,233 acres, the total purchase price £67,041, and the number of applicants concerned therein twenty-four. The purchase of four properties was actually completed during the year, the final payments in respect of the other five approved areas being made after the 31st March. Negotiations are proceeding for the purchase of further properties under this system. Tables are attached giving particulars of the properties considered and lands acquired during the year, together with balance-sheet and statement 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, 1930.

Table B.—Summary of Estates acquired to the 31st March, 1930.

Table C.—Return of Land purchased and paid for from 1st April, 1929, to 31st March, 1930.

t. t „r. Area of Estate Number. ofered Number. Area of Estate offered. Land District. Land District. Forth Auckland .uckland risborne [awke's Bay .. 'aranaki Wellington [arlborough .. 126 143 15 38 29 92 28 Acres. 163,088 215,628 42,816 138,665 51,506 107,283 97,129 Nelson Westland Canterbury Otago Southland • • 14 22 171 39 87 Acres. 16,179 116,758 337,272 63,564 85,090 Totals 804 1,434,978 |i_

Land District. Number. Area. Purchase-money. Auckland (including North Auckland) Hawke's Bay (including Gisborne) Taranaki Wellington Marlborough Nelson Westland Canterbury Otago . . .. Southland 103 63 25 151 22 14 3 178 79 31 Acres. 396,922 311,436 27,628 160,187 224,090 48,821 6,032 451,201 325,918 93,673 £ 1,580,594 2,357,100 369,818 2,326,539 755,482 150,473 14,062 3,521,423 1,979,146 511,282 Totals 669 2,045,908 13,565,919

Name of Owner. Locality. Price per Acre. Mode oi Acquisition. Settlement. Area. Amount paid. Macdonald, Thomas Scott, D. (Estate of late) Martin, Mrs. A. Mills, W. E.* Hishon, M. Cunningham, J. T. .. Price, F. A., and Son Hamilton, J. B., A. II., and W.J. Anderson, James C. Levin, B. L. Dorman, E. F. Currie, J.* Murray, David (Executors of estate of late) Gower, B. A.* Halpin, J. .. Phillips, G. T.* Riddell, James, jun. Wilson Bros. Finlayson, C. H. Gilchrist, J. B. and N. C. Gilchrist, Misses Stuart, G. .. Acton-Adams, B. L. McKendry, D. P. (Estate of late) Fairlie Leeston Otaio St. Andrew's Limebills Fairlie T oootrin £ s. d. % in n £ s. d. By agreement Brinklands Welburn .. Moanaroa Scotston .. Fernhill .. Acres. 1,123 562 1,003 493 474 1,010 731 241 £ 17,318 20,528 18,469 8,647 8,300 16,205 16,098 5,062 Leeston . 36 10 0 io a A 36 io 0 18 0 0 Otaio Sj+- A >-*/-I-ny-VTir 'n St. Andrew's 3 if? in a 17 10 0 Limebills . 17 10 0 Winton oo a a 22 6 0 21 0 0 Tamatea .. Winton ,. 22 0 0 oi a a . 21 0 0 Eden dale .. Feilding Clydevale .. Ashhurst Waiwera Eden dale . 1 A i rr Feilding Clydevale . A edi ln-ii»o+-x K n a 55 0 0 . . 55 0 0 " Brydone .. Westella .. Rockford Currie Murrayfield 355 836 1,742 170 1,076 5,701 46,241 13,558 7,780 8,519 Ashhurst Waiwera Ohingaiti Totara Flat Fordell Te Kauwhata Ruatangata Ohingaiti Totara Flat CV.T.,1,.11 Fordell Aa o o .. 46 0 0 hn 1 1 9 R 46 0 0 11 3 6 Gower Raupo Phillips .. Mangakura Aponga .. 186 907 266 940 3,178 412 2,029 1,880 1,939 24,064 423 f6,029 5.719 12,271 t6,500 22,600 3,993 36,524 28,213 31,999 81,016 11,704 le Kauwhat; ta 11 3 6 Ruatangata Oamaru llo TV* o r*i-t lfl A A 18 0 0 15 0 0 16 10 0 Roseberry Oamaru .. 18 0 0 r. a a Tapanui Heriot Methven Tapanui I--I r*4Heriot . . 15 0 0 i a i o a .. 16 10 0 9A 1A A 30 10 0 Tapanui .. Wilden . . Climes Methven .. 30 10 0 46,040 438,994 Totals * Purchase under Part II of the Land Laws Ami the e Land Laws i Amendment Act, indmont Act, 1928, on behalf of approved applicants. t In part.

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LAND FOR SETTLEMENTS ACCOUNT. Receipts and Payments Account for the Year ended 31st March, 1930. Receipts. Payments. £ s. d. To Balance, Ist April, 1929 — £ s. d. £ s. d. By Land-for-settlements expenses (vote) .. 8,398 12 9 Cash in Public Account .. 32,752 0 3 Acquirement of estates .. .. .. 439,003 610 Imprests outstanding in the Cost of development, Hutt Valley lands .. 33,800 2 7 Dominion .. .. 1,512 11 0 Road access to settlements, cost of surveys, &c. 10,619 15 2 Investment Account .. 262,550 0 0 Administration expenses .. .. .. 11,627 17 3 296,814 11 3 Interest under section 208, Land Act, 1929 .. 329 0 0 Becoveries on account of expenditure of pre- Beclamation work at Kohukohu (Reserves vious years .. .. • • • ■ 222 7 4 and other Lands Disposal Act, 1927, secBonts and royalities .. .. .. 461,248 18 1 tion 7) .. .. .. .. 2 11 6 Sales of settlement land .. .. .. 66,105 16 6 Purchase of land, Niho Domain (Reserves and Interest on sales of settlement land .. 28,314 10 10 other Lands Disposal Act, 1916, section 16) 131 6 0 Sales of Crown land ..' .. .. 74,691 2 9 Expenditure under section 83, Land Act, £ s. d. 1924 —Payment in respect of value ut Interest on sales of Crown land 127 7 0 improvements.. .. .. .. 67 10 4 Less refunds and adjustments 195 15 6 Payments under section 105, Land for SettleCr. 68 8 6 ments Act, 1925, in respect of Crown lands Buildings .. .. .. .. 1,512 17 8 proclaimed land-for-settlements land .. 618 4 8 Receipts under section 208, Land Act, 1924, Expenditure under section 20 (3), Land Act, on account of capital value of land .. 498 410 1924—Payment in respect of land obtained Beeeipts on account of farm for Government works now deemed to be accounts — £ s. d. settlement land .. .. .. 678 0 0 Te Wera Estate .. .. 5,879 6 1 Payment under section 17 (2), Land Laws Mataikona Estate .. 3,423 8 1 Amendment Act, 1927 —Cost of opening Mataikona Estate —Adjust- up and making fit for settlement lands ment of amount credited acquired by the Crown .. .. 25 0 0 to Discharged Soldiers Recoupment to Discharged Soldiers SettleSettlement Account in ment Account in respect of amount added previous years .. 79,636 13 1 to capital values cf land under section 20 88,939 7 3 (4), Discharged Soldiers Settlement AmendInterest on investments .. .. .. 13,982 3 1 ment Act, 1923 .. .. .. 1,920 0 0 Balance transferred from Land for Settlements Recoupment to Discharged Soldiers Settle - Account (Discharged Soldiers Settlement ment Account under section 20 (5), DisAccount) .. .. . • •. 196 18 2 charged Soldiers Settlement Amendment Loan Account .. .. .. .. 500,000 0 0 Act, 1923 .. .. ... .. 100 0 0 Hutt Valley Lands Settlement Act, 1925 — Payment in respect of land resumed under Receipts under section 11 (2) (a) .. 53,9.13 14 6 section 4 (8), Land for Settlements AmendMiscellaneous recovery of expenditure on ment Act, 1927 .. .. .. 5,000 0 0 estates, &c. .. .. .. •• 4,960 12 10 Payment of interest under section 13, Land Land Laws Amendment Act, 1929, section (6) Laws Amendment Act, 1926, on proceeds —Receipts, Te Kauwhata Block . . .. 29 11 11 from sale of Crown land .. .. 50,000 0 0 Payment of loss incurred in disposal of land Expenditure on account of transfer from Consolidated Fund .. 2,608 6 0 farms accounts— £ s. d. Te Wera Estate .. .. 5,638 14 6 Mataikona Estate .. 212 3 1 Mataikona Estate —Adjustment of amount charged to Discharged Soldiers Settlement Account in previous years .. 54,840 19 8 60,691 17 3 Land for Settlements Act, 1925, section 45 (3)— Expenditure under section 6 (1), Land Laws Amendment Act, 1929 .. 3,993 6 7 Expenditure under section 6 (2), Land Laws Amendment Act, 1929 .. 898 13 2 4,891 19 9 Land Laws Amendment Act, 1929, section 9 — Expenses of administration .. .. 56 6 3 Stamp duty on transfers of New Zealand consolidated stock .. .. .. 4 18 11 Management charges of New Zealand consolidated stock .. .. .. 971 3 3 Charges and expenses of raising loans .. 1,047 3 5 Interest on debentures .. .. .. 405,827 12 2 Becoupmeiit to Ordinary Bevenue Account of amount charged thereto for reduction of funded debt .. .. .. .. 539 16 5 Balance at 31st March, 1930— £ s. d. Cash in Public Account ..267,426 11 4 Imprests outstanding in Dominion .. .. 1 18 8 Investment Account ..290,190 0 0 557,618 10 0 £1,593,970 14 6 £1,593,970 14 6

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LAND FOB SETTLEMENTS ACCOUNT— continued. Revenue Account por the Year ended 31st March, 1930. Dr. £ s. d. Cr. £ s. d. To Interest on loans .. .. .. 390,821 6 2 By Bents, &e. .. .. .. •■ 487,735 4 0 Interest under section 13, Land Laws Amend- Interest on sales.. .. .. •• 24,129 .12 0 ment Act, 1926 .. .. .. 70,210 11 0 Interest on capital expenditure- £ s. d. Interest under section 47, Land Laws Amend- Te Wera Estate .. . . 4,511 2 2 ment Act, 1929 .. .. .. 8,405 12 0 Hutt Valley Settlement .. 6,81119 11 Interest under section 208, Land Act, 1924 .. 238 12 8 11,323 2 1 Administration expenses .. .. .. 11,863 3 5 Interest on investments .. .. •• 15,801 3 9 Rebates —Rent and interest .. .. 41,980 15 1 Interest on investments in Public Debt ReRemission of rents, &c. .. .. .. 11,621 10 10 demptionFund .. .. •• 45,022 7 0 Reductions by Revaluation £ s. d. Miscellaneous .. • . • • • ■ 251 17 11 Board .. .. 29,057 2 4 Less written off to Reserve 29,057 2 4 Remissions and rents written off by Revaluation Board .. .. .. .. 7,688 12 2 Remissions and rents written off under Deteriorated Lands Act, 1925 .. .. 934 1111 Irrecoverable rents, &c, transferred to Suspense Account .. .. .. 13,676 16 4 Charges and expenses of raising loans .. 1,047 3 5 Management charges of New Zealand consolidated stock .. .. .. 971 3 3 Stamp duty on transfer of consolidated stock 4 18 11 Land for settlements —Vote expenses— £ s. d. Audit fees .. .. 100 0 0 Miscellaneous .. .. 891 5 11 Preliminary expenses .. 3,734 18 11 Salaries .. .. .. 1,000 0 0 Travelling-expenses .. 358 10 4 6,084 15 2 Depreciation of plant .. .. .. 196 1 6 Insurance premiums, &c. .. .. .. 70 2 4 Balance carried down .. .. .. 18,447 10 7 £584,263 6 9 - £584,263 6 9 He s~dT £ s - d - To Adjustment of account of previous years .. 23,257 1 4 By Balance brought down .. -. ■• 18,447 10 7 Balance transferred from Land for Settle- Adjustment on account of previous years .. 10,733 8 0 ments —Discharged Soldiers Settlement Ac- Balance transferred to Reserve Account .. 37,668 17 8 count .. .. .. .. 43,592 14 11 £66,849 16 3 £66,849 16 3

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LAND FOR SETTLEMENTS ACCOUNT— continued. Balance-sheet as at 31st March, 1930. Liabilities. Assets. Capita!— £ s. d. £ s. d. Land— £ s. d. £ s. d. Loan Account.. .. 10,606,875 17 8 Leased ... ..10,239,853 6 3 Crown land included in Unleased .. .. 381,899 9 11 estates .. .. 210,140 0 0 10,621.752 16 2 Sales of Crown land .. 2,135,951 7 6 Estates in course of acquirement .. .. 12,529 5 0 Unpaid purchase price (not 12,952,967 5 2 yet payable)— £ s. d. Less amount expended Crops .. .. .. 2,197 5 0 in opening up land Buildings .. .. 149,536 7 1 for settlement .. 647,528 1 5 Sales of settlement land .. 469,599 9 3 12,305,439 3 9 Sales of Crown land .. 331,447 15 4 Deposits by lessees of Crown land under sec- 952,780 16 8 tion 208, Land Act, 1924 .. .. 8,351 5 1 Hutt Valley EstatesSundry creditors— Purchases .. .. 162,812 17 I Interest under section 13, Roading and incidental exLand Laws Amendment Act, £ s. d. penses .. .. -209,684 17 4 1926 .. .. .. 51,001 6 5 Interest.. .. .. 43,038 7 4 Departmental .. .. 289 0 4 Miscellaneous .. .. 9,400 15 6 .. 415,536 1 9 60,691 2 3 Less receipts, section 11 Interest on loans due and un- (2) (a) Hutt Valley Land paid .. .. .. 1,034 9 4 Settlement Act, 1925 .. 247,776 11 5 Interest on loans accrued but 167,759 10 4 not due.. .. .. 105,758 19 6 Mataikona Farm Account .. .. .. 99 3 1 Te Wera Estate—Stock, implements, &c. .. 96,04111 5 106,793 8 10 Plant and machinery .. .. .. 3,835 0 0 Less amount for which Con- Furniture . . . . .. .. .. 27 0 0 solidated Fund is liable .. 16,240 0 0 Mechanical office appliances .. .. 23 0 0 90,553 810 Land Laws Amendment Act, Payments in advance — 1929 — Insurance premiums .. 010 0 Expenditure under section £ s. d. Interest on sales of settle- 6(1) .. .. .. 3,952 17 11 ment land .. .. 264 18 0 Expenditure under section Rents .. .. .. 7,850 510 6 (2) .. .. .. 946 10 1 Buildings .. .. 19 0 11 4,899 8 0 Principal instalment on build- Sundry debtors— ings' .. .. .. 207 3 9 Rents, te. .. .. 69,764 17 5 Principal instalment on sale Less reserve .. .. 4,000 0 0 of Crown lands .. 1,532 11 9 Principal instalment on sale 65,764 17 5 of settlement lands .. 1,489 14 I Sale of crops .. .. 21115 0 11,364 4 4 Interest on sales of Crown Amount held under Reserves and other Lands land .. .. .. 579 1 0 Disposal Act, 1927, section 25 (2) —Turakina Interest on sales of settleDomain .. .. .. .. 317 3 1 mentland .. .. 3,444 16 3 Discharged Soldiers Settlement Account — Principal instalment on buildMerged transactions .. .. .. 1,044 18 1 ings .. .. .. 3,187 12 5 Rents,"te., charged in advance .. .. 126,376 11 5 Principal instalment on sale Depreciation reserve —Plant, te. .. .. .1,568 12 0 of Crown lands .. 4,900 11 6 Reserve Account, including unexpended load- Principal instalment on sale ing for roads .. .. .. •• 1,198,087 17 9 of settlement lands .. 4,527 810 Writings-off in suspense .. .. .. 9,248 11 5 Departmental .. .. 125 2 6 Miscellaneous .. .. 1,894 9 6 84,635 14 5 Postponements .. .. .. .. 90,901 16 7 Interest accrued but not due — £ s. d. On investments .. .. 2,613 12 11 On deferred-payment licenses 6,142 1 0 8,655 13 11 Interest due and unpaid on investments .. 2,559 7 6 Investment in Public Debt Redemption Fund 1,170,581 2 0 Outstanding rents in suspense .. .. 9,248 11 5 Consolidated Fund — Proportion of interest on loan £ s. d. capital .. .. 45,334 II 6 Less proportion of interest due and unpaid and interest accrued but not due, as per contra .. 16,240 0 0 29,094 11 6 Cash in Public Account .. 267,426 11 4 Imprests outstanding .. 1 18 8 Investments Account .. 290,190 0 0 557,618 10 0 £13,813,042 18 0 £13,813,042 18 0 J. B. Thompson, Under-Secretary of Lands. J. H. O'Donnell, Controller of Accounts. I hereby certify that the Statement of Receipts and Payments, Revenue Account, and Balance-sheet have been duly examined and compared with the relative books and documents submitted for audit, and correctly state the position as disclosed thereby. The following comments are appended: (1) The Land for Settlement (Discharged Soldiers Settlement Account) has been incorporated with this account. (2) The capital of the account has been reduced by £1,786,128 ss. Id. under section 22, Finance Act, 1927, and section 17 of the Land Laws Amendment Act, 1927. There is, therefore, no charge for interest on such amount included in the accounts. The capital liability and interest thereon will, I understand, be reflected in the national balance-sheet. (3) The interest adjustments between the account and Consolidated Fund have been only approximately calculated. — G. F. C. Campbell, Controller and Auditor-General.

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