Ex-Servicemen And Farms

Chronicle (Levin), 15 April 1948, Page 7

Ex-Servicemen And Farms

■ ; t ;/i'"e!VE^fjMGTqN: Ariril :lf;i • In' koihe districfs it would se'eiu thuti d'or certaip types oi farthing prope'rties,' the demand :1)y' oirserViceinen had; fftllen off. said the' Minister of Kehabili i iation, Mr. Bkinnbr, at the montliiv' meeting of the reliabilitation Board. The Minister was commenting on inforniation before the board whic'i shotfed.that, in spite of many. qualified ox-servicemen waiting for farms of their own, there had .in sonie recem ballots been verv few applicants. Par ticu'lar reference was made to the ballot held during Februarv for two ulideftned dieep seetions iii the "Fighting Hill" fafm settlement, Kaitaia Gorge, Canter bury, and for wliich only two applica lions were received. The board was informed that unti! the end of Februarv 560, S03 acres had been acquired for settlement uuder the provisions of the tSlnall Farms Aet oi •Mervicemen's Settlement aml Land dales Act. This was divisible into 572 sheep-farining units, 772 dairy r'arms and' S4 sundrv farming units uiaking 1428 farms in all. Added to his were 280 farms which could result from a further 74,010 acres of erowu .'and previo"usly held and suitable for 'Ue settlement of ex-Hervicemeii. This uiade a total potential of 1708 farms. At the same time 832 ex-servieeinen had been' placed on erowu land, 5(5(5 on permanent tonuro and 26(5 on wages .vitli the promise of a title vvhen devclopment- work was sutticiently ad."anced. Tliere were also 4064 exlervicemen who had been placed with relrabilitation assistance on single unit farins for which they had themselves negotiated. During Februarv 19,237 acres had icen acquired for settlement, divisible Tito 18 sheep farins, 20 dairy farms aud me mixed t'arm. Of this 15,011 acres had been purehased under the pro.•isions of the Small Farms Act, 4083 acres under part 11 of the Serviceiuen's lettlement and Land Saies Aet, and 143 .icres under section 53 of the same iegislation.