LAND FOR SOLDIERS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 306, 20 September 1920, Page 6

LAND FOR SOLDIERS

$ AREAS FOR FUTURE DISPOSAL. Tho report upon soldier-settlement for the year ended March 31 last states; — , "During the year just- ended an nrea of approximately 299,435 acres, comprising Crown land and private estates acquired under the Land for Settlements Aot, was balloted for by discharged soldiers, and as in tho majority of eases competition was very practically every section was taken up. These lands were subdivided into 577 holdings, and included two pastoral runs in Hawke s Bay, one pastoral run and nino small grazing runs In Canterbury, five pastoral runs, and one small grazing run in Otago. All these runs were readily selected. Tho lands allotted under the Discharged Soldiers Settlement Act, 1915, during tho year totalled 403.891 acres, cut up into 932 holdings, of which an area of 326,197 acres was selected under the special tenures provided by section 4of the Act. This area comprised 801 farms. . "At April 1 last sixty-four private estates purchased for settlement, covering an area of 210,186 acres, were being prepared for disnosal, and these will be offered, in addition to other estates which are being secured from time to time, as soon as tho essential sun-eying and other preliminary work can be completed. Furthermore, largo areas of virgin Crown land, particularly in the Auckland and North Auckland districts, are being surveyed and roaded preparatory to being placed on the market. A considerable* portion of the lnnd to be made available in tho Auckland district comprises pumice area, for tho development of which cheap manures and easy facilities for the carriage of produce and farming materials are necessaij. Exploration and subdivjsional surveys nro boing pushed on over large tracts of partially unexplored and in some parts forest-clad country lying between To Kuiti and Taumarunul, and drainage operations on tho Hauraki Plains and other oarts of the district are l'ninji expedited to enable theso fertile lands to bo brought into cultivation as soon as possible. In the Otago district tho licenses of soveral pastoral and grazing runs have expired, and these are being subdivided with a view to offering without delay. Some twenty runs will thus bo available, as well as eight small farms. It need scarcely be lepeated that the Department ha? used, and will continue to use, all means in its power to adequately provide land for all classes of returned men who are willing to settle theroon."