REPATRIATION WORK.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2208, 27 November 1920, Page 2

REPATRIATION WORK.

TOTAL OF £24,000,000’ SPENT

The latest monthly return issued by the Minister of Lands shows that the repatriation of New Zealand soldiers, including’ advances authorised but not yet made, has involved an expenditure of almost £2-1,000,000 to the end of October. Details arc as follow: —

Discharged Soldiers’ Settlement Act, advances for stock and purchase of houses and private land. £17,000,000.

Land for Settlements Act. — (a<) Capital value of 208 estates, comprising 352,062 acres, purchased, subdivided, and offered to soldiers, £4,370,000. .((») Cost of 38 estate's, comprising 138,603 acres, purclmsv cd*and now being subdivided and pro pa red for settlement, £1,065,000, Total, £5,435,000.

Repatriation Act, financial assistance for establishment of businesses, for purchase of furniture, tools, etc., and for sust'enanee, etc., £1,450,000. Total (not including cost of ndminisi ration), £23.075,000.

The average cost of placing returned soldiers on settlement laud has been £3,003, the average capital value of the sections being £2460, and (he average advance for stock ami improvements being £543. The average advance for the purchase of private land"has been £1,633, and the average advance for the purchase of a duelling bus been £660. These figures show that jhe Lands Department has been keeping well within the limits set by the law in the making of advances.During the present month 86 sections, comprising 18,500 acres, are being offered to soldiers, and arrangements have been made to offer a further 06 sections next month. The land that is now available for settlement by soldiers, or that is being prepared for settlement, totals 625,005 acres. This includes 38'‘purchased estates, which will provide about 337 sections. The 306 estates purchased under the Land for Settlements Act" for returned soldiers have had a total area ot 401,265 acres, and have provided 2,020 holdings.