LAND SETTLEMENT.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 August 1917, Page 3

LAND SETTLEMENT.

A DIMINISHING QUANTITY.

REVALUATION OF SETTLE-

MENT LANDS.

WELLING TON August 4. _ The Land Department’s operations last year’s re-effect the difficulties dut to the war the total area of lands selected .373,262, acres being 36,657 acres less than during tlxa year 1916. The comparison is even worse if it is made with years prior to 1912 when over half a million acres were annually taken up from the Crown. The report points out that while tho existing commercial conditions have been particularly favourable to improved lands, they have operated as a serious obstacle to the developments of new land. With the scarcity of labour and high prices demanded for material for fencing, etc., the cost of effecting improvements has so increased as to overburden those settlers who are endeavouring to bring new holdings to a state of profit. An appreciable reduction in the value of previous years is noticeable. •As to the general condition of agiicultural activities it is stated that those farmers who devoted their attention mainly to grazing, and were well established before the war have had a very successful year, and the high prices ruling for stock have returned them very handsome profits The demands for mutton and beef for export purposes and the prices offerod have tended to induce graziers to dispose of their young stock more freely than usual, and a shortage of stock in the coming season is not improbable. In the dairying districts the returns produced have been highly satisfactory. The lot of the agriculturist has not been very encouraging as the dry summer was not conducive to heavy yields, especially of grain crops; on the lighter land these crops were far from good. The prospects of the root crops in their early stages wore decidedly promising but the development of the fruitgrowing lands is progressing) steadily. A fair area of new land has been broken in and planted, ana * w*. siderable number of new orchards have come into profit. Land selections during the year comprised 5414 acres for cash 7 680 acren under the deferred payment system 157,226 acres renewable leases, 37,791 occupation with right to purchase 800 acres of mining areas and occupation leases 135,691 acres small grazing runs 16,050 acres education endowments and 19,610 acres of pastoral leases in mining districts. The total number of selectors was 1234. T ; he diminution of £45,158 in the Department’s revenue is more than accounted for by decreased cash sales and purchase of freeholds. Revaluation of Crown leaseholds continues. During tho year forty properties were revalued under Section 15 of the Land Laws Amendment Act, 1915. The- capital values were reduced from £7O 186 to £58,007 and the annual rentals from £3229 to £2667. At the close of tho year there were still six applications lodged but not yet dealt with. Remissions of rent amounting to £9043 were granted'all hut £757 being to members of the Expeditionary Force and returned soldiers.