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1935. 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 op Lands. Department of Lands and Survey, Wellington, Ist August, 1935. Sir — I have the honour to submit a report on land-purchase operations for the year ended 31st March, 1935. . , , T Owing to the unstable prices for farm-produce, the marketing problem, and other difficulties it has not been deemed advisable to embark on any extensive scheme of land purchase during the past four years. Any areas offered which have been considered suitable for settlement under the Small Farms (Relief of Unemployment) Act have been diverted for that purpose, and this fact, combined with the serious difficulties that have surrounied land-purchase operations, has slackened the pace of settlement under the provisions of the Land for Settlements Act. < . , 1 T j An area of 10 acres adjacent to the Remuera Settlement, m the North Auckland Land District, was purchased under the Native Land Act. Particulars thereof are to be found U1 T As^ind lasfyear's report, share milkers were established on ten ™ the Galatea Settlement, and results have been for the most part satisfactory. Peudmg an improvement in the economic situation as affecting the dairying industry the offering of sections in this block has been further postponed, and no further share milkers have been installed. The Department's farming operations on the settlement have met with satisfactory results and the stock capacity has materially increased through development _ Ovei_ 18,000 sheep, including 9,000 breeding-ewes, 840 dairy cows and 2,600 run are being win «e and it is estimated that by shearing-time there will be approximately 27,000 sheep stat]oil e T wae Block ig at p resen t wintering 4,250 sheep and 700 head of cattle, and has responded well to development. In addition to having and development costs, the area has returned a substantial profit, and it has also been possioie from revenue to effect considerable improvement to pastures which existed at time of purchase. development, the carrying-capacity of the Kakariki Block has materially tet iSS, 11,000 sheep and 1,400 head of cattle at present tang run on 1116 SSLont »p-«r »ESS 1 "1 "ixeS™ holdings are more encouraging. In the farmed by the Department, and is providing more than the annual interest cnarge o sections of the Arthurton Settlement, comprising sheep-farming properties considered and land acquired ,„,™ 'r Sgether with Revenue Account and Balance-sheet. Tim usual statement during tiie yw. joget „ d Auditor-General) required under the provisions of (duly certified by t - qta-tLvmpnts Act 19 9 5 of the moneys received into and paid section 109 a of the lUnd forettlemnnß Act, 1925 of» J parliamentary of the® Revenue and Expenditure of the Publie Account for the year ended 31st March, 1935. ( W. Robertson, Land Purchase Controller. The Hon. the Minister of Lands.

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