LANDS SETTLEMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 September 1915, Page 8

LANDS SETTLEMENT.

A PUKEARUHE PETITION. By Telegraph.—Press 'Association. Wellington, last Night. The Chairman of the Lands Committee (Mr. E. Newman) reported /to-day that the Committee had no recommendation to make on the petition of Herbert Wells and thirteen others, praying that, land suitable for dairying purposes be secured at Pukearuhe, Taranaki.

A discussion followed, during which Messrs Anderson and Jennings urged that the land law as it stood was faulty, inasmuch as now there was no power to take land compulsorily. Closer settlement was much needed in many parts of the dominion, and such powers as the Government had to promote subdivision of big blocks should be immediately put into force.

The Prime Minister said that some members were of opinion that no settlement was doing on, but it must be remembered that since the outbreak of war they had to slow down. They had] also to remember that many of pur surveyors had enlisted, and the work could not be carried out as expeditiously as in previous years, and for that and other reasons he was not spending nearly so much money as formerly. He quoted figures, published in the Lands Report, to show what had been done in promoting settlement during the past two years, and expressed the opinion that in the case reported on by the Committee the Government could not take the block compulsorily, bcause it was too small, being only ,600 acres. Every attention was being paid to the question of providing land for our wounded soldiers. Part" of the business of the Lands Committee that morning was to consider that very proposal. Considering the difficulties, financial and otherwise, which the Government have to face, he could assure the House that closer settlement was not being neglected. The report was adopted.

NO AGGREGATION, SAYS MR. MASSEY. : SOLDIERS' SETTLEMENTS. By Telegraph,—Special -to Daily News. Wellington, Last Night. Mr. Massey made reference to land settlement to-day, in the course of a discussion on a Taranaki petition for subdivision of a certain block of land. He said he believed there were cases of aggregation, but for every one case of this kind there were ten cases of subdivision. He had given instructions that the Crown Lands rangers in all parts of New Zealand were to report to him cases of aggregation that might come under their notice, and up to the present time not a single case had been reported. - Mr. Jennings (Taumarunui): I will give you six cases right off.

Mr, Massey said he would trust the judgment of the rangers. The Land Act of 1913 contained provision for dealing with aggregation, and he was prepared to take action if the occasion arose. Quite a of notices directing subdivisions had been served on land owners, with good results The owner had replied in each case that he would cut up the land himself, and would require time to do it. One notice had been withdrawn, when the owner represented that he had eleven sons, all destined to become farmers. The war had reduced the amount of money available for land purchase, but the report of the Lands Department showed that substantial progress was being made. Mr. Masseyi added that the Government was giving much attention to the requirements of returned soldiers, and proposed to arrange for the establishment of soldiers' settlements in suitable districts. The men would be provided with land, and, if necessary, with stock, implements, and homes.«