LAND SETTEMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 11 April 1930, Page 8

LAND SETTEMENT

BREAKING IN UNDEVELOPED . AREAS.

GOVERNMENT’S ACTIVJTI ICS

A great deal of work has been accomplished by the Lands Department since the passing of the Land Laws Amendment Act last November in the direction of putting into operation an active and vigorous policy of land settlement, according to information derived from an official source.

The personnel of the Lands Development Board established under the Act was completed by the appointment of a gentleman possessing extensive experience both in the farming of ordinary land and the breaking in of undeveloped areas, and the board was placed in a position to hold regular meetings to consider the reports of advisory committees in furtherance of the policy of settling the undeveloped Crown lands of the Dominion.

Advisory com mi ties have been appointed for the purpose of advising, and otherwise' assisting the Lands Development Board. These committees ensist of a Commissioner of Crown Lands and two other persons appointed by the Minister of Lands; and three of 1 them (one in North Auckland and two in South Auckland) have been in active operation since early in .January, during which time they have carried out numerous important inspections.

WORK OF COMMITTEES

Ciminittee-s are also beings appoint-c-d'in other districts, their duties .being; briefly to ins poet all Crown lands in their districts with a view to determining what particular areas are snia.ble lor settlement, and with respect to those areas to advise .whether they should he partially developed by the Crown <6rior to being offered for selection, or whether they should be subdivided and roaded by the Crown and thereafter offered for selection on terms providing that advances be made out of the Land Development Fund to approved settlers to enable them to effect the necessary improvements. Advances are to be made up to 90 per cent of the value of improvements, but not to exceed C 1250 in the case of any one selector. It is not proposed to make advances for the purchase of stock, but to coniine operations to the granting o 1 lans for improvements. Committees also are to advise generally as to how development should proceed; to furnish opinions of minimum and maximum areas of proposed sections into which the block under report might be subdivided, paying particular attention to water facilities, 1 noxious weeds, etc.; and to report generally on any particular matter referred to the committee by the Lands Development Board.

DEVELOPMENT WORK COMMENCED.

The development has been commenced by the Crown of an area at To Kan what a in the Waikato, and also of a block of some 2200 acres of puland about fourteen miles from Rotorua. This development work is under the direction of expert officers of the Department of Agriculture. Other blocks are being inspected with a view to development w r ork being carried out on areas suitable for the purpose. Funds for the roading o! the blocks dealt with will be fount: from the Lands Development Fund, and it is intended as far as possible to provide road facilities ahead ol settlement..

With regard generally to undeveloped areas, and particularly those comprising pumice land, it is not proposed that all blocks suitable for settlement shall be either wholly or partialy developed by the Crown prior to their being offered for selection. It is intended to throw open a large number of sections to meet the ini mod iate demand, and to give applicants an opportunity of establishing an inset by their own labour. These lands will be made available at the eiuTic possible date. ASSISTANCE TO SETTLERS. Regulations have been issued, application forms have been printed, and the department is now in a position to deal with applications by settlers l-w advances for developmcn purposes. Settlors taking up unimproved sections will be assisted by means of advances as improvements are effected and will also receive advice and in-

struction to aid them in achieving success. It will Do possible also for Crown tenants occupying land coining under the designation of unimproved to apply to the Lands Development Board for advances for improvements. Some thirty-eight applications for assistance amounting in aII to £23,MS have already been received, and it ;s expected that this number will increase very considerably as undeveloped sections are taken up from time to time.

A preliminary list of undeveloped Crown sections available for selection has already Ibeen printed and distributed throughout the Dominion, and further lists will follow from time to time. The selectors of any of the lands described in the list will he eligible to apply to the Lands Development Board for financial assistance.

The work iqL,.making all suitable b-nds remaining in the hands ol til Grown available for selection, it is stated also, lui.s generally been speeded. Survey parties- have -been increased where required, and road lo cation and engineering works active!' put in hand where extensive roadm * Vi-Air-is necessary.

A broadminded Christchurch parson rather startled bis congregation the other Sunday by remarking from the pulpit that be saw no barm in tobacco and that for bis part be would not object if people smoked in church! The famous Spurgeon once said something. of the kind when preaching a I the London Metropolitan Tabernacle. Re regarded tobacco as a boon and a blessing to mankind. It’s ditto ditto to womankind too, these days! But the great preacher was a stickler for pure baccy, and carefully avoid ed brands very rich in nicotine, knowing well how injurious they are if used habitually. As a matter of fact the imported brands are almost all loaded with nicotine. Very different are the toasted tobaccos now so popular in New Zealand. he toasting rids the leaf of nicotine, and imparts to it its well known ilavour and aroma. The four brands are: Rivcrheiul Gold, Navy Cut, Cavendish and Cut Plug. These are the only toasted kinds manufactured. 'I he., arc not only delightful smoking, but absolutely safe.—Advt.