LAND FOR SOLDIERS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 238, 2 July 1920, Page 6

LAND FOR SOLDIERS

SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS OVER £19,000,000 SPENT Neadly 14,000 returned soldiers had been provided with land or homes by tho Government under the repatriation scheme up to May 31. Tho Minister oft Lands (Mr. Guthrie) told tho House of Representatives yesterday that the number of soldiers placed on rural land had been C9JS, the total area being 2,158,555 acres. Of these, 1385 men- had been p'need on purchased estates, 1158 had been placed 011 Crown or endowment land, and 4405 had been assisted to purchase private land. The number of sol- . diers assisted to purchase town dwellings'had been 6926. , , ~ The Minister mentioned that the land now available for soldier settlement or under preparation hnd a total area m 691,141 acres, iwl'.uding 56 purchased ■ estates comprising' 200,000 acres. The distribution of this land was n ® follows:' North Auckland, 61,325 acres; Auckland, 92,150; JJawke's Bay. 81,992; Tanmnki, 39,834; Wellington, »695; Nelson, .7,440; Marlborough. 5440; Wostkmtl, 3830; Cnnterbury, 31,724; Otago, ■ 270,798; Southlond, 14,913; total, 691,141 acres. _ The expenditure was summarised by the Minister as follows:— Purchase of 230 estates .£3,743,687 Advances for purchase of private land Advances for purchases iof houses ■£4',471,884 Advances for stock and improvements i 1,985,383 Cost of 56 estates now being subdivided .Total X19,C6G,3G8 \ The Minister mentioned that tho average capital value of settlement sections had been .£2281, and 'tho average advance for purchase of a houso .£652.