CROWN LANDS.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 August 1923, Page 4

CROWN LANDS.

THE ANNUAL 'REPORT. WELLINGTON. August 7. “Conditions-- generally throughout the Dominion hare been much more satisfactory during the past year, judging by reports submitted by the Commissioners of Crown Lands,” states the Under-Secretary of the Department of Lands and Stn vey in the annual teport submitted to Parliament to-day. The i court states that there had been a general improvement in farming conditions. and the future was viewed optimistically by farmers, hut that that must he discounted to a certain extent by the fact that land-owners still were j : burdened with having to pay interest | on the high prices paid for holdingI do ing the vast few years. In the case i of Crown tenants, concessions had bean ! granted where merited. Although the percentage of unpaid rents still was very high, it was hoped that this would gradually diminish. Tenants might apply for revaluation or postponement of rent. Much already had been done jin that direction. The Department 'had over Jto.Ot’-O leases and licenses at | March -'sl last, and the Crown had advanced money to nearly 5000 discharged j soldieis. so that a very large propor- | lion of the farmers of the Dominion | were on the 'Department's books and ; under the jurisdiction of hand Boards, i The report states that there have i been 10.-JOO acres of Crown land drained j and settled 09,800 acres under devcj Lpment and acres of private i land tliaim-d or partly improved. It j ' L pointed out thfil the very nature . | of the work undertaken by drainage cn- • | gii iccts materially assists in the kuow--1 i lodge of the cuiiitmsition of the soil in ' ! tile localities drained ami reclaimed. j and |arnmts who su!.se:|itcnily settle on ' j the I aid will benefit, by knowledge of I : the particulars published, as in the , j case of the Huuraki Plains. I AND fop; selection. During the past year 112 b selectors I j wink up 181.019 act os, hut the demand ' j for virgin lands is still somewhat re--1 | drifted, except lor those .sections in ’ j most favourably situated localities. The ~ i policy is being continued of offering , I foi- *'■; imral application practically all I | lands available, preference being given r j t<> discharged soldiers. Of a total a reft s | of 508. Kid acres available for scttle- ' S men!. 825.001 are in Auckland and ; j !o.o!id in North Auckland. Tim area I under survey for settlement totalled | ,|0|.7!2 acres, end the area to be put ; in h ml for early settlement totalled : w.v.-.ps ; .--ros. Sections available for

| imitv: diale >!‘ 1 ■ ■:• ti <«ll comprise lor the I nussi }»(i-r: scattered surveyed sections j from l!u' Xmth C'-tpc to ime liluir. IMildl'ClNC VALUATIONS. In i!' : . i.r sixteen Crown lcasej In: 1 '!- which were r< valued. the capital ! val'o; were reduced from £'!G.l lo to | t:ir..V.r. s :><! the annual rental from j 1 £±MO !■’ £l7<i;i. Totul revaluations ! 1,1:0!, ■ from the commencement of Hie j svsiem !1 > March .'i!. Homin'!".’:! ISM! I '.villi !i rodm-iion of capital value !rom | c’| !(i1,7:’,:5 to CHol.ol”. atul iu animal | !r • nl■ ■! ITOOI L'o-.fC) to £-1 —3—1 A total I, f 2SH Cllv, 11 tenants li-hI li'l l lii':la covering 11. .IHil ai'ies forftoC ; eil lor iion-cimijiliance with eoiulitii its ■ of lioics ami 1 ii-f'isse-. Their rentals to- ] tall'-rl £ll .l’-’O annually. In lohlition. j .!!•"> tenants surrendered lenses over !:!!i 1 .“>(I acres. '.'.l! I!KA lid OK IiKNT MOCXTIXC. receipts for the year amounted jto £i .21 IS. !22 derived as follows : ; £j J1:1 “-2 fioiii ordinary Crown lands i £ ir-t.Ai).’) from lands held under (lie I La ml for Settlements Act (inclwdiim | Cheviot estate). £111.':!:! from national j endowments and £117,187 from edtteaj tioii endowments. Lamt year s recoil ts I Mere £1 Alio (III), and it is considered | tliai. tint wit listaiulinii prevailm;: cmiI iliti'ms. (lie position iu tits respect fas j (seen fairly well maintained. I'ost- : I'onenieliis lII' payment ef rent v, ere I oranted t" KISH tenants dttrin;: the vra". The amount involved was ; okc.iO’. At Mn 1 eli ni. £102.0 IS re- 1 i nu-'m-d postponed oil account ef 7.'st> l, ,r.n!.-. limits in arrear at March HI. j amounted to £.T>B.22.'>. an incroeo ii j 0 1!I0.:S7 from last year. This increase ! h: • h mi oeiieral throughout the |)o----1 1 ..;• • | in, and occasioned ihe oreatcsl | ; 'e v. V'.u , careful alien! iett ha - ; 1 . oiveii i') the problem of lediiein;: j !;* 11 unfurliinntely the pi.iition i not line that iidittiis of eml.v rec.ive! v. Ii will he modified partly hy re-t:-;--1 111 and revaluations where ncii"'...sv. There is. hov. ever, a limit to v. Pai , an i.e dene in this way. and the 1 it "i 1 v ••! c.i . ea 11 only he met by vihie piiees and increased production ■ I ei'm-si:•:•!.t upon improved farming: Iu; h ;C. The ipiesiion demands careI ful y-j .. ymjii ihi'tii' liandliiio during the I ..vim.di d 1 eriod that 1111 M necessarily * ! ■ . . , ‘jda • 1 before a normal nom am can Le Ir, ■ 1. d.