LAND FOR SOLDIERS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 60, 4 December 1920, Page 10

LAND FOR SOLDIERS

AIT INTEBESTING RETURN.

Information relative to Crown lands available for settlement and the position of the Discharged boldlers Settlement Account has been received by Mr. J. row, General secretary of the 8.5.A., from tlio minister of Lauds, and embodied m a circular issued to a!" branches of the association. In Septcnffijr Jjist tho Minister waß asked to Bupply particulars relative to- (a) Tho areas of Crown land suitable for soldier settlement avallablo In each district, (b) Tho number of sections (for soldiers) these areas could bo cut up into; and (c) tho "lass of land. In reply, the Minister has furnishes, through the Department, the following return showing the approximate area of land available! in each' district:—

Area in No. of District. acres, holdings. Auckland i. 14,548 105 Auckland 28.584 39 Kawke's Bny 12,991 76 TTawke's Bay 14,34?. 15 Taranaki 35,600 130 Wellington 14,229 38 ?>!h rl borough ...; 5,135 5 Nelson 79.134 136 • Canterbury 28,002 "0 Otago 297,929 152 The land is classified as follows:—Auckland, dairying Mid grazing: Kawke's Hay, dairying and grazing: Taranaki, 'Welling-; ton, Marlborough, Nelson and Canter-' bury, mixed fanning; Otago, pastoral, etc. Until it has been surveyed, subdivided, valued, and provision mode for roading, tho Department states that it is not in a position to bring this land under the notice of soldiers.

Settlement Aooount. A statement as to the position of the Discharged Soldiers' Settlement Account on Oofober 31, 1920, shows that the loan authorities wero as follow:-Discharged Soldiers' 'Settlement Act, 1515, and amendments, £1,500,000; Discharged' Soldiers' Loans Act, 1919. £12,500,000; Discharged Soldiers' Loans Act, 1920, .€6,000,000; total, £20.000,W0. Advances repaid amount to £500.000 making the total available •620,500,000. The advances authorised total £17,001.015, leaving n balanco of £3,498,985 available for authorisation. The particulars of authorisations are as follow:—General improvements and stock, £2 766.109; advances towards purchaso of private or Nativo lands, £6,413,678; advances towards purchase of Crown leaFeliolds, £1.577,610: advances towards discharge of mortgages, £543,881; advances towards purchase and erection of town dwellings, £5,699,737. Total, £17,001.015. The average advance for stock and iranrovements is £543, the average advance for purchase of private land is £1633. the average advance for purchase of dwellings is £669, and the average capital value of settlement sections is £2460. Taking into nccount the average advance for slock and improvements, it will he seen that the average cost of placing moil on land for settlement sections is £3000. Estates Acquirod, Tlio following summary ia given of estates acquired in various land districts under the Land for Settlement Act for returned soldiers and which arc being prepared for settlement, as at Octobcr 31, 1920: No. of subdi'ViNo. of Area in sions District, properties acres (approx.) North Auckland... 2 3,044 13 Auckland 5 27,384 83 Hawko's Bay 6 12,021 47 Taranaki 5 8,255 47 Wellington 7 23,637 43 Jlarlborough 2 5,108 6 Nelson J 11,924 36 Canterbury 3 1,124 16 Otago 5 • 46,106 46

Tolals 38 138,603 337 The lotol price paid for tho land in each district was as follows—North Auckland, £39.200: Auckland, £110,134: Uuwke's Hay, ,C£0i,293: 'IJaranaki, £112,240; Wellington, £247,179; Marlborough, £31,-2.13; Nelson, ,i:76,737: Canterbury, £26,803; Otago, £85,268. Total, ■ .€1,063,007.