LAND FOR SETTLEMENT.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 222, 19 September 1928, Page 17

LAND FOR SETTLEMENT.

ONE PURCHASE LAST YEAR. (By Telegraph:—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. The only substantial purchase by the Land for Settlements Branch 'last year was Tangowahine estate of 1406 acres, near Dargaville, bought at £12 an acre by agreement, the total cost being £16,468. There were 84 properties of 171,788 acres offered, but, says the report, for various reasons very few purchases were made. Some excellent, sheep country was placed under offer, but the blocks in question were unfortunately not economically suitable for sundivis- > ion, although no doubt they had proved payable propositions when capably farmed in large areas. It was found as a general rule that even those properties, which were offered at fairly reasonable prices, considered as going concerns, could not bear the extra charges entailed by subdivision, roading, etc., and be thereafter offered for selection at prices affording prospective settlers a fair chance of success. The extra 10-id-ing entailed in the provision of n-"v homestead buildings, fencing, roadinw. etc., is the chief obstacle to the acquisition of lands for subdivision for closer settlement, and it is only on comparatively rare occasions that suitable land can he bought at prices that will allow of a reasonable return on the capital out In y plus the necessary additional chjirgcf,