HOMESTEAD SCHEME

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 62, 7 December 1920, Page 8

HOMESTEAD SCHEME

SETTLEMENT OF POOR LANDS MINISTER TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS The Minister of Lands (Hon. D. H. Guthrie) oxpects to visit Auckland next week for the purpose of conferring with the Land Board and members of Parlia-. mcnt regarding the' opening of a block of land under tho homestead system. The settlement of some of the poor pumice iand under this system lias been part of the land policy of .the Government for some time, and legislation passed by Parliament in 1919 made provision for the placing of settlers on such land. Tho Government was to advance money to the settler whilo the land was being brought into production, and then issue a freehold title, subject to the repayment by tho settler of the capitalised amount of the adva-nces. 1 tho scheme was not brought into operation this year, owing to the fact that nearly all the land of tho class considered to lie suitable for homestead settlement was National Endowment, and therefore could not he tnrnod into freehold The Minister believes that it is only by offering the inducement of the freehold that men can bo attracted on to the poor land, which doos not become productive until a great deal of labour fins been put into it. lhe Laud Act, nf this Tear gives tho Government power to withdraw some of the land from the National Endowment, and the Minister Intends now to consult tho Land Bonid Ind the kEal members about the selection of a suitable block for the fust E6 Mr. nl Guthrie stated yesterday tt*t while lie was in Auckland lie ivouW d acuss tho production and sals of kauri cum Ho might decide to set up a commission to consider- the whole matter and make recommendations regaidin„ the control and encouragement of the industry. —