LAND FOR SETTLEMENTS ACT, 1894.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 77, 27 September 1895, Page 2

LAND FOR SETTLEMENTS ACT, 1894.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE STAR. Sir, — The following particulars from the report laid on the table of the Honse this session may be of interest to some of your readers. Tbe report says that in 1894 there were 102 offers, and in 1895, 208 offers to sell land to the Government, total area 1,075,289. This clearly shows that these " Social pests " were only too glad to be relieved of their land. The report gives the return for the money invested by the Government in tbe purchase of lands at 4*14 per centum per annum ; but from this must be deducted the loss of interest on the money before the land is let, and also that lost on the land not yet taken up in the Blind river and Pomahaka settlements. In the former the return is not 8 per centum per annum. Some of the improvements (?) consist of Cob huts and rush whares. And to the loss of interest on the money borrowed by Government in buying these estates must be added tbe costs of surveys, roads, office expenses, printing, &c., ad libitum, all of which has to be paid by the long suffering over-burdened taxpayer. The crash must come. I am, Ac., George Wilks. Feilding, Sept. 23, 1895.