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

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1941 Session I, C-05

C.—s,

1941. 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. Department of Lands and Survey, Wellington, Ist June, 194]. Sir, — I have the honour to submit my report on the land-purchase operations for the year ended 31st March, 1941. In my last report I gave details of the Matanuku Downs and Strathmore Estates, for the purchase of which the Dominion Land Purchase Board had just completed negotiations. Both those transactions were finalized during the year under review, and, in addition, other properties in the North Auckland, Auckland, Canterbury, and Southland districts were acquired with a view to development for closer settlement. , Brief particulars of the year's purchases are given hereunder: — W. 11. Bradley's property, containing 1,248 acres, is situated in the Hobson County, seven miles from Te Kopuru and seventeen miles south from Dargaville. The country, which lies well, can be described as level to undulating with some steep faces. At the date of purchase 157 acres were in good grass, 160 acres ploughed and partly cultivated, the balance being in inferior grasses, mainly danthonia and rat-tail. All the fencing erected by the vendor was particularly well constructed. An ample water-supply for closer subdivision will be obtainable from lakes and springs. Electric power will be available within twelve months. The carrying-capacity of the property when fully developed is estimated at 600 dairy cows and about 120 heifers and steers, so that it should be possible to obtain from twelve to fourteen, self-contained dairy-farms. Ototoa Block, acquired in January, 1941, from Messrs. South Head, Ltd., contains 1,610 acres 2 roods 28 perches, and comprises the better-grassed portion of the South Head Station. The nearest saleyards and railway-station are at Helensville, twenty-three miles distant by metalled road. The soil is sandy loam on sandstone, and there is ample water for closer subdivision. The present capacity is about 1,800 breeding-ewes and 100 breeding-cows, but after further development the utilization will be dairying. R. Billing's property, of 894 acres 2 roods at Pongakawa, was purchased in September, 1940, and is now being developed in conjunction with other land in the locality. Very little use had been made of the property by the vendor, and when taken over by the Government it was considerably affected by ragwort and rabbits. However, the country is sound, and it has been proved that it responds readily to proper farming methods. The Strathmore Estate, 9,836 acres 2 roods 4 perches, is located twenty-eight miles from Rotorua and one mile from the Reporoa Township, School, and Post-office. The vendor, the Finance Corporation of New Zealand, Ltd., gave possession on the 2nd September, 1940. Development is now proceeding under the control of the Superintendent of Land Development, Auckland, the work being undertaken in conjunction with that on the Small Farms Board's Mihi Block adjoining. The land varies between good-quality partly-drained swamp, fair- to good-quality flat and rolling country, ploughable hills, and poor pumice flats. The coarse pumice flats and portion of the hills are doubtful development propositions and will not be touched meantime, work being confined to approximately 6,400 acres, representing the best of the block. It is estimated that about sixty self-contained dairyfarms will be obtained on subdivision.

I—C. 5.

5.

" Matanuku Downs" 1,709 acres 3 roods 38-7 perches, was purchased from Mr. T. M. Chambers on the 30th May, 1940. Its location is two miles from Tokoroa Township and dairy factory and twelve miles from Putaruru. The land generally is easy ploughable, with steeper faces not exceeding 50 acres in extent. The soil is of fair-quality loam overlying light pumice and does not readily dry out. It takes grass well, grows good root crops, and responds rapidly to good farming. At the date of purchase 1,450 acres approximately were in grass varying in age from one to fifteen years, and 210 acres were in crop or fallow. The vendor was carrying 800 head of one- to four-year-old cattle, 1,200 breedxngewes, 200 dry ewes, and 1,000 wethers, but with reasonable manuring the pastures can be considerably improved, and the stock-capacity increased accordingly. Adjoining farms are carrying one cow to 2 acres. n Tl ~ 0. N. 11. Worker's property, 495 acres 3 roods, lies directly across the road from Matanuku .Downs, with which it has been grouped for the purposes of working. Although somewhat broken, the property is all ploughable, with the possible exception of 50 acres. It has been well farmed in the past, and the improvements, all of a permanent nature, are in good order. The pastures are somewhat better than those on " Matanuku Downs," and the fencing is exceptionally good. The vendor was running 1,000 ewes, 260 hoggets, and 20 head of run cattle, but the ultimate utilization for subdivisional purposes will be dairying. 1 . E. W. R. Leslie's 739-acre property, which adjoins " Matanuku Downs on the opposite boundary to Worker's, was taken over on the Ist October, 1940. This is a good place, lying nicely to the sun and containing 700 acres of easily ploughable country. It has been well farmed, and the pastures, covering 525 acres, are in good heart. The soil appears to be above the average lor the district. It is estimated that six subdivisions will be obtained without further roading. The Department will retain control meantime with " Matanuku Downs " and Worker's. K. S. Cox's property of 1,301 acres 1 rood 2 perches at Lichfield, near Putaruru, was purchased on the 3rd March, 1941. About 278 acres are in good grass, the balance being unimproved. The country is easily worked, responds well to manure, and grows good root crops. Development will occupy about three years under normal conditions. Motunau Estate, 2,925 acres, which was acquired in January, 194], from the trustees m the will of the late Constance Byrch, is situated eleven miles from the Motunau Post-office and about sixty miles north of Christchurch. The estate comprises good, warm, fat-lamb country, and is practically all ploughable. The vendor's annual cultivation programme was totally inadequate, and as a result the pastures were for the most part poor, and an extensive programme of regrassing will be necessary. On subdivision, from five to seven economic sheep-farms will be obtained. Valetta-Tinwald Areas.—By the end of the year the Board had completed the purchase of ten properties farming a more or less compact group for development into irrigation units. The total area involved is 7,268 acres 1 rood 32 perches, and it is all within the boundary of the Valetta-Tinwald Irrigation Scheme, which will be put into operation oh completion of the essential work on the Rangitata Diversion Race at present under construction by the Public Works Department. Water is expected to be available in about twelve months' time. The size of the holdings to be provided on subdivision will be decided after a study of the effect of irrigation water, liming, and cultivation on this type of land. Chetnole Estate.—ln September, 1940, the Board completed the purchase from Messrs. Chetnole Ltd. of approximately 766 acres of the Chetnole Estate, near Glenavy, South Canterbury. The portion taken over comprises fiat land, mostly good heavy soil (drained swamp), and 2o acres light to stony country. Although the area has been extensively tile-drained considerable further improvement can be effected by additional draining and cultivation. Irrigation water is available from the Waitaki River. A subdivisional scheme providing for seven sections has been drawn up on the assumption that the future utilization will be dairying, cropping, and seed-growing. While remaining under departmental control Chetnole will be capable of supplying a considerable quantity of grass-seed to meet requirements on other blocks. _ _ . W. H. Cochrane's " Spurhead " property contains 2,212 acres 2 roods 36 perches, and is situated at Edendale Southland. Possession was taken on the 31st March, 1941. The land consists of easy undulating lipht clay loam resting on fairly free deep clay subsoil. The property had not been heavily cropped, and is in such a condition that it will respond readily to top-dressing. The pastures both good and poor had been understocked over a long period, and in consequence had badly deteriorated. Considerable development work in the nature of fencing and regrassing will have to be undertaken prior to settlement, but it is estimated that about six good economic sheep-farms will ultimately be available. Although all these properties were purchased by the Dominion Land Purchase Board under the Land for Settlements Act, 1925, they were handed over at the 31st March, 1941, to the Small Farms Board for further improvement in accordance with the Government's decision to provide for the settlement of discharged soldiers under the Small Farms Act, 1932-33. _ The number of offers actually considered by the Dominion Land Purchase Board during the year, following inspections by Field Officers, was 103, involving a total area of 249,568 acres. The fact that there were not more actual purchases was due solely to the unsuitability or excessive price of the majority of the properties offered. . . Tables are attached giving particulars of the properties considered and land acquired during the year, including purchase-prices, together with a Statement of Receipts and Payments. I have, &c., R. G. Macmobran, Land Purchase Controller. The Hon. the Minister of Lands.

2

C.—s.

Table A.—Number of Properties considered during Year ended 31st March, 1941.

Table B.— Summary of Private Estates acquired to 31st March, 1941.

Table C.—Return of Private Land purchased and paid for during Period from 1st April, 1940, to 31st March, 1941.

3

Number Number of Total area , , n - t . , of Total area Land District. Properties offered. Laud District. Properties offered. offered. offered. Nearest Acre. Nearest Acre. North Auckland .. 23 63,888 Nelson .. .. 1 237 Auckland .. .. 22 33,820 Marl-borough .. .. 2 6,560 Gisborne .. .. 1 8,128 Westland Hawke's Bay .. .. 7 41,620 Canterbury .., .. 29 45,471 Taranaki .. .. 1 401 Otago .. .. 4 29,412 Wellington .. .. 7 13,488 Southland .. . ■ 6 6,543 Totals .. 103 249,568

Land District. Number. Area. Purchase-money. Acres. £ North Auckland .. .. 56 51,845 480,682 Auckland .. •• 82 391,083 1,310,982 Gisborne .. •• •• 26 86,380 790.131 Hawke's Bay 59 264,783 1,714,292 Taranaki 27 31,959 378,031 Wellington .. 157 160,846 2,350,638 Marlborough . • ■ • ■ ■ 23 234,591 756,482 Nelson 14 48,821 150,473 Westland •• •• 3 6,032 14,062 Canterbury .. .. •• 192 462,544 3,588,353 Otao-o .. •• 82 336,803 2,036,018 Southland .. ■ • ■ • 35 96,609 534,780 Totals 756 2,172,296 14,102,924 ' i -

(For Native Land, see next Table.) ... Mode of Amount Name of Owner. Locality. Acquisition. Area. paid. A. K. P. £ S. d. W. H. Bradley .. .. Te Kopuru .. By agreement 1,248 2 22 • 5 9,500 0 0 South Head, Ltd. .. .. Helensville .. „ 1,610 0 28 16,108 15 0 R. Billing .. .. Pongakawa .. ■ ,, 894 0 0 1,700 0 0 The Finance Corporation of Reporoa .. ,, 9,836 2 4 28,000 0 0 New Zealand, Ltd. T. M. Chambers .. .. Tokoroa .. „ 1,709 3 38-7 17,350 0 0 C.N. II. Worker .. •• „ » 495 3 0 5,949 0 0 E. W.R.Leslie .. .. „ ».• 739 1 25 8 > 850 0 0 K. S. Cox Lichfield .. „ 1,301 1 2 5,250 0 0 Bvreh Trustees .. • • Motunau .. ,, 2,925 0 0 26,32o 0 0 R. A. and R. H. A. Yates .. Valetta-Tinwald „ 500 0 0 1,640 0 0 L.Thomas .... „ ■; 446 2 32 0 0 Carlisle Studholme Trust .. >> > >> 1,298 0 4 4,700 0 0 Est. V. W. Wright .... „ „ 620 3 37 3 > 250 0 0 J. Farrell .. .. „ „ 1.514 2 11 4,400 0 0 P. "Drummond .... ,, >> 837 1 39 2,063 15 0 J. A. McCormick .... ,, >> 2 1 I 2 3 ®0 ® ® H.T.Thompson .... „ „ 616 1 23 1,250 0 0 H. L. Barker .. .. ,> >> ® 79 3 500 0 0 K.M.Campbell .. .. „ .. 640 0 0 2,070 0 0 Chetnole Ltd. .. .. Glenavy .. „ 766 2 4 15,530 0 0 W.H.Cochrane .. .. Edendale .. ,, 2,212 2 36 12,500 0 0 Total .. •• 31,008 132-2 168,66410 0

C—s.

Table D.—Payment from Land for Settlements Account pursuant to Section 10 (1) of the Native Land Amendment Act, 1932, during Period from 1st April, 1940, to 31st March, 1941.

LAND FOR SETTLEMENTS ACCOUNT. Statement of Receipts and Payments fob the Yeab ended 31st March, 1.941. Beceipts. £ £ Balance as at Ist April, 1940 .. .. •• •• •• •• •• •• ' ZZZ Investment Account .. .. •• •• •• •• •• •• 5J4,<SBb 973,1b£ Cerdits-in-aid, vote " Land for Settlements " .. .. • • • • • • • • • • 283 Sales and capital receipts— Estates.. .. •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• Hutt Valley lands .. •• •• •• •• •• Land developed under section 8, Land Laws Amendment Act, 1929 .. .. .. 6,630 Land Act, 1924, section 208 : Capital value of land .. .. .. •• •• 5,204 Crown land : Section 20, Land Act, 1924 .. .. .. • • • • • • 339,806 Repayment of advances for — Development of occupied— Crown lands .. . • • ■ • • • • • • • • • ■ 20,915 Settlement lands • • ■ • • • • • • • • • • • ' > 3"® Under Deteriorated Land Act, 1925 .. • • • • • • • • • • 207 Roading of endowment lands .. .. .. • • • ■ • • • • 85 087,118 Rents and Interest — Rents — Derived from estates .. .. •• •• •• •• 072,061 Hutt Valley lands .. . • • • • • • • • • • • • • Lands developed under section 6, Land Laws Amendment Act, 1929 .. .. 6,040 Interest— On deferred-payment sales — Estates.. .. •• •• •• •• •• •• >2® Hutt Valley lands .. •• •• •• •• •• 4,787 Lands developed under section 6, Land Laws Amendment Act, 1929 .. .. 943 On advances : Mortgages — Development of occupied— Crown lands .. ■ • • ■ • ■ ■ • , • ■ • • ® > '29 Settlement lands .. .. .. •• •• •• •• 1,780 Deteriorated Land Act, 1925 .. .. • • - ■ • • • • 246 On advances for roading of endowment lands .. .. .. •• 179 419,834 Sales of produce, live-stock, and miscellaneous receiptsSeasonal Farming Receipts— Crown Lands under development •. .. • • • • • • • • <>0 > °47 Settlement lands under development .. .. • • • • • • • • 70,920 Miscellaneous Receipts — Sundry estates (leased) .. .. • • • • • • • • • • Crown lands under development .. • • • • • • • • • • Settlement lands under development .. .. ■ ■ • • • • • • 9,553 112,776 Transfer from Public Works Eund (General Purposes Account) of cost of acquisition and development costs of areas required for soldier settlement under the Small Farms Amendment Act, 1940 .. 226, 111 Recoveries on account of expenditure of previous yearsAdministration expenses wrongly charged on Hutt Valley receipts .. .. .. 8 Sale of surplus and obsolete stores . . .. .. • • • • ■ • ■ • 14 — zz Interest on Investments .. .. •• •• •• •• •• •• 17,969 £2,437,276

4

Payee. Land. Area. Amount paid. A. E. P. £ 8. d. Native owners .. .. Part Wharepulmnga 18b .. 30 0 0 30 0 0 Moanakapiti-Huhuraumati 110 1 7 10 D 4b Part Section 4, Block II, 3 0 144 90 0 0 Hawera Survey District

C.—s.

LAND FOR SETTLEMENTS ACCOUNT—continued. Receipts and Payments Account foe the Year ended 31st March, 1941—continued. Payments. £ £ Annual appropriations, vote " Land for Settlements " — Accident compensation .. .. .. ■. .. .. .. . • 131 Acquisition of land .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 170,969 Administration charges : Salaries, &c. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,193 Administration expenses—• Development, &c., under Land Laws Amendment Act, 1929 .. .. .. 1,916 Estates acquired under Land for Settlements Act .. .. .. .. 10,640 Hutt Valley Settlement lands .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 347 Advances for development of occupied land —• Crown lands .. .. .. .. .. .. .. •• 21,071 Settlement lands .. .. • • .. .. • ■ • • • • 7,077 Advances for protection of buildings .. .. .. .. . • .. 180 Audit fee .. .. •. .. • • • • • • • • • • 250 Development operations — Crown landsImprovement and equipment .. .. .. .. .. .. 5,695 Seasonal expenditure .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 15,112 Settlement landsImprovement and equipment .. .. .. .. .. .. 61,433 Seasonal expenditure .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 79,787 Grants to local bodies in lieu of rates .. .. .. .. .. . • 1,098 Improving and protecting settlement lands .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,722 Lodgments under section 208, Land Act, 1924 — Refunds of .. .. .. .. .. . • . • • • • • 680 Interest on .. .. .. .. . • .. •• • • • • 530 Payment for improvements to outgoing lessees .. .. .. .. . • 58 Preliminary expenses of acquirements .. .. .. . ■ •. • . 126 380,015 Interest and other charges on loans and capital liability— Transfer to Consolidated Fund of interest on debentures .. .. .. ..291,976 Recoupment of management charges on securities .. .. ... .. .. 814 Recoupment of stamp duty on transfers of stock .. .. .. .. .. 3 292,793 Expenditure charged on proceeds of sale of Crown lands— " Thirds " paid to Local Bodies' Deposit Accounts from proceeds sale of Crown land .. 249 Acquisition of Native land under section 3 (2), Native Purposes Act, 1934 .. .. 475 Acquisition of Mataura Domain .. .. .. .. .. . • • • 380 Acquisition of Fendalton Domain .. .. .. .. •• •• 780 Improvement and development of Hutchinson Domain .. .. .. . . 52 Settlement land converted into ordinary Crown land .. .. .. .. .. 3,612 5,548 Transfer to Public Works Fund (General Purposes Account) of value of improvements effected by Small Farms Board on Withers Settlement .. .. .. .. .. • • • • 320 Balance as at 31st March, 1941 .. .. .. .. .. . • • . 47,235 Investment Account .. .. .. .. .. .. •• ..1,711,365 1,758,600 £2,437,276 R. G. Macmorran, Under-Secretary for Lands. G. I. Beeson, Chief Accountant. I hereby certify that the Statement of Receipts and Payments has been duly examined and compared with the relative books and documents submitted for audit, and correctly states the position as disclosed thereby.—Cyril Collins, Controller and Auditor-General.

Approximate Cost of Paper.—Preparation, not given ; printing (545 copies), £8 15s.

By Authority: E. V. Paul, Government Printer, Wellington. —1941.

Price 6d.}

2—C. 5.

5