LAND PURCHASE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2378, 6 February 1915, Page 8

LAND PURCHASE

A REQUEST FROM GREYTOWN. A request that the Government ■should purchase the block of land known as the Hegarty Estate, in and adjoining the borough of ; Greytown, was made to the Prime Minister by a deputation from that town yesterday. Mr. J. T. M. Hornsby introduced the deputation. The various ' speakers urged_ that the land was very valuable, that it could be purchased for £50 an acre, and settled in 60-acre farms. At this price' ; they thought the settlers could easily make a living on such- small buildings. In reply, the Prime Minister pointed out that the purchase of land for settlement was the function of the Land Purchase Board, and not of the Minister of Lands. Although it was true that much land purchased by the Government had appreciated in value, unfortunately, in a-good number of cases, the land was not now worth what had been paid for it.' During the last two years he thought the Government must have written £50,000 off certain properties to give the settlers a chance to mako a living on the laud. That made the Government careful. Not long ago he had been called upon to visit a property in Canterbury which had been acquired by the State. On that land the settlers were good, industrious men, but he ventured to say the lajid was valued £10 au acre too high, and that £10 would have to be written down, otherwise tho men would leave their holdings., The_ members of the board had visited this property in Greytown, and their report was that they had "no recommendation to make." .'The price asked was £50, and the Government valuation £37 10s. In tho faco of tliis fact, and this report from tho board it was quite impossible for the Government to buy. The danger from tho point of view of the Government was that after the settlers were on the land they might ask to have tho value reduced. He had no objection to the board again visiting the land and making a fresh report.

Mr. J; D. Ritchie, chairman of the Land Purchase Board, explained in detail reasons which had dissuaded the board from recommending the purchase, but he promised to visit the land again, and supply another report to the Minister.