LAND AGGREGATION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 1955, 22 March 1919, Page 2

LAND AGGREGATION.

Deni ini’' willi (lie i|iu',-tiun cl' In ml aggregation, on Tmsilny infill, Mr Deter Fraser, M.D.. said 1 hnl according to ;i Government return (ho number of freeholders of rural lands was in round figures 4(5,01)1), Of (hose, 30,200 owned J/>f),0()0 acres, and (lie remaining 0,8(10 owned the rest of the land, representing the vast majority of it. No less than 5,(522,000 acres was owned hy -177 land holders; 50 men owned ],000,000 acres, and 22 held no less than 1,104,000 acres. In the Wellington Land District land aggregation was increasing enormously. In 1012 jl.'i settlers took up 12,1)00 acres, in 1013 03 settlers took up 11,280 acres. 1014 1 11 settlers were pal on 24,000 acres, in 11115 70 settlers took up 30,500 acres, and in 1010 70 were settled on 13,000 acres. Thus in live years 400 settlers were placed on the land, and one would naturally expect Ilm(; at the end of that period (he number of settlers on (he land in the Wellington District would have increased by approximately (he number of new settlers (bat had taken up laud. But what did we lind.' At the end of 1017 the number of settlers on the hind in the District was 410 less than it was five years- previously. This proved conclusively that land aggregation was increasing rapidly, a stale of affairs, said .Mr Fraser, that was due to the land policy of (he Government. Labour's kind policy would increase settlement, and absolutely check aggregation.