THE WORKING OF THE LAND ACTS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1037, 28 January 1911, Page 6

THE WORKING OF THE LAND ACTS.

' COMMENTS BY THE PRIME " . , MINISTER. ..'.-V' ..Some interesting . statements relativa to Lands for Settlement in New Zealand have bee'rii/made by the Prime Mini ister in tho north.' During the nine months ended December 31 last, 1501 persons were placed upon 443,000 acres. Selections were as follow:—For cash,153 purchasers J*"-occupation with right of purchase, 331 selectors; renewable; lease, 451 selectors. '. ..' ■~ Tho land revenue, for the same period: amounted to £450,000, classified as follows;— '• -i .'.'■■• . ■■■•■. ' :. £■■ ' Ordinary Crown lands x. 229,000 i Land' for settlement .; ....... 139,000 Cheviot Estate .'......' _~-' 8,000 National endowments _: . 50,000 Other' sources ..„...'..„ :..; 24,000 This is an increase of £70,000 over the corresponding period of theprevious year. XII 6 revenue from land set apart for national endowments already had realised a substantial sum, and it was expected that during ' the next three months of tho financial year tho amount: would bo increased to. £SO,OOO. "The statement, therefore," says the-' Prime Minister, "that the setting apart of the national endowment areas would not financially benefit, the educational.' and other funds is clearly disproved.'-' • The Government were, ho said, fully alive to the necessity of settling the lands; and, in furtherance of this aim, there wero at the present time 6S surveyors employed in surveying and subdividing lands for settlement. In.addition, there wero 4S .surveyors engaged on contract work for the samo purpose, about half a million acres of Crown., lands were in their hands, and about', the same area of Native lands, suitable, for small holdings. As to pastoral runs, the Government for some time had been considering the>' question of the . further subdivision of tho M'Kenzie, and other districts in. Canterbury,.the leases.of which fell in early next year. Nino estates wero. purchased by the. Government last year for closer settlement. Thev had a total of 18,000 acres, and wero 'selected in S6 sections—or account of 77 families. Altogether 471S people have beer:, placed upon, the land by the Lands for Settlement policy,