THE NEW AND THE OLD.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2194, 6 July 1914, Page 5

THE NEW AND THE OLD.

FACTS CONCERNING LAND PURCHASES. A question from the Leader of tho Opposition enabled tho Prime Minister to state a few facts most favourable to bis Government regarding land purchaser, for settlement, in the House on Friday afternoon. Mr. Massey had tabled a'return concerning estates purchased for fettlement. Sir Joseph Ward asked whettiei there had been many sections not taken upon estates bought by, tho Government. Ho had certain information which ho did not propose to use, but ho would liko to know from tho Minister whether such failures on tho part of cottiers to take up sections were frequent, and if so. what the reasons wero for the failures. Mr. Massey raid he would bo glad to give the Houso full particulars of everything that had taken- idaco in regard to land settlement since the present Government came into office, but ho could not do so at the moment. So far as ho could recnljcct the only instances of settlers having failed to take up land were in Southland, where two blocks subdivided were not wholly taken up. Ho had, however, been advised by the Commissioner of Crown Lands at Invercargill lately, that tho sections would probably bo taken up in a few weeks. 110 believed that land was cheaper in Southland in proportion to its value than in any other part of Now Zealand. Mr. Davev: What about Wnihou Estate? Mr. Massey said that all tho sections on tho Waihou Estate had not been taken up at first, but they wero all taken ur> now. In fact, tlio Gov. eminent had boon wonderfully successful in getting blocks settled, much moro successful than some of their predecessors in <oflice. Ho proposed to writ.down by £9000 tho valuation of one block purchased for subdivision imo small holdings. This was necessary in order to induco people to talto uptr... holdings, and the Government had the choice of allowing tho land to remain idlo and reducing the valuations. Mr. Forbes: Was that Nai Nai

Mr. Marsoy: No, it was not Nai Nai It was Norniandalo, The honourable gentleman, ho went on, hud reminded him of Nai Nai. That block had been purchased five or six years ago for settlement in areas of lour or fivo acres, and there was not a settler on it. The Government would havo to reduce (ho valuation of that block. Another block that the Government hod had to writo down was a piece of Native land,, tho Moerangi block, in tho Waikvlo. The reduction in valuation there would havo to bo not less than £13,000.