LAND SETTLEMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 15 August 1929, Page 2

LAND SETTLEMENT

DEPARTMENT’S ANNUAL REPORT. V' ' • 'WELLINGTON, August 13. :• Selections of Crown and settlement lands during the year ended on March 31st last totalled approximately 462,000 acres according to the annual report presented to Parliament to-day by the, Land Department. Tenants on thebooks of the Department under all tenures now : numbered 36,702, occupying a total area of over'l9,soo,'ooo acres. Over 9,400j000 acres of;'this total was represented by pastoral runs, the bulk or which was situated in the Marlborough, Canterbury',Otago, and Southland districts,:whilb -1)822,000 acres of purchased estates were held under lease under ’The provisions l of the Land for Settlements Adt. The number of selections for the year was 1911 under all headings. There was again a fair demand for . small improved farms and a brisk demand 'for gobd’sheep country. “Tt has again been found during the past year that many persons desirous of selecting Crown sections had little or no'capital available, and it is, of course, difficult for .the Department to place such applicants satisfactorily,” states the report. “ There are doubtless hiany m&ri 'of sound experience who are grievously handicapped by the lack of even a small amount of capital, and it may yet be possible to devise some mean’s •' of assisting these to obtain farms of their own.” The receipts (for the year £1,290,856, showed an increase of £19,035. Referring to the development of pumice lands,the report says:— ; “It is considered there are in some districts' large areas of unimproved land, mostly pumice and gum country, which could be profitably occupied, now that the value of top-dressing for that class of land is becoming more fully understood. Most of it is land reqqirihg fairly close' settlement so as to allow of intensive farming 'of every section, and it is hoped that as thg result of special investigations several blocks suitable for group; settlem©n| will be found.'"'A ‘ topographical survey of a block in the Taupo-Rotorua disy trict -is being undertaken by the Department. . Whemthe survey has ■ been completed the area will be • developed for settlement to a certain extent

before being opened for selection; and

it is hoped to proceed on similar lines i With blocks in other parts, jpf the Dominion. This will enable the incoming tenant to obtain some return from his, land from the beginning, and he will then'Be 'in a better'position 7 'to* proceed;

with the improvement of the remainder of his section.! The land coiis cerned is. at present in fern and scrub and a good-deal is'ploughable country. The .success, pf the scheme, will also largely; bemg-'sprbvid6d- tb -; assist' 7 settlers'- in theirvfarming operations.” y According to the report the total revenue in the Canterbury province was - £608,306, ' including £323,584 in the Discharged Soldiers’- Settlement Account, being an increase of £25,562 on the previous year. This increase is made Cup of £22,114 in the Discharged Soldiers’ Settlement Account,' and £344B'in the ordinary revenue. Arrears at March 31st last, show a deCreaSd’of £13,200, as compared with the amount outstanding qifcvMarch 31st, amount is !smade, up .of .'£6837.1;in 'the ordinary revenue, and £6363 in the Discharged Solders’ Settlement Account. Postponements outstanding at March 31st j '1929, are £5587 less than that at March 31st, •1928.. ■ . Y< v . -."y