Settlement At Galatea

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 22, 17 February 1948, Page 5

Settlement At Galatea

Soldiers Turning Sunny Flats To Good Account Out on the sunny flats of the old Galatea- estate the Lands and Survey Department converting once dry and almost useless country into profitable, well appointed dairy farms of about 100 acres each for the settlement of returned soldiers. The land developed to date is divided into 39 farms, each from 140 to 170 acres, all fenced, with sheds, milking machines and the necessary implements, as well as modern homes comparable to the best State houses. All the stock is on the farm the day the serviceman arrives. He has a herd of tested cows, good pig stock and sufficient horses for all the work necessary. Before each man takes over his place the Department sees that there is from 20 to 30 acres of good healthy lucerne on the place. This is the irrigation scheme of this particular district.

The winds blow over these flat lands, warm and dry and, in a day, green paddocks are dry straw, all except lucerne, however, which can, by its root system, keep fresh and green. t When the scheme supervisor considers the farms have * reached a level- of production to enable them to be run efficiently as farms by their future owners, they are put up for ballot. The successful applicant is put on for a year on wages and a bonus on production so that he may adapt himself to the running of his farm with no chance of being affected by a lean year. If, at the end of the year, he likes the farm and he is considered by the . supervisor able to run it efficiently it is placed under a State Advances long term mortgage and the soldier becomes the owner by payment of easy instalments.