I

1946 NEW ZEALAND

DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND SURVEY SETTLEMENT OF CROWN LANDS (ANNUAL REPORT ON)

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency

g IR Department of Lands and Survey, Wellington, 28th June, 1946. I have the honour -to submit the annual report on the settlement of Crown lands for the year ended 31st March, 1946, together with particulars of operations under the Small Farms Act, 1932-33, the Land Laws Amendment Act, 1929, and the Servicemen's Settlement and Land Sales Act, 1943. I have, &c., R. G. Macmorran, Under-Secretary. The Hon. the Minister of Lands.

REPORT

GENERAL REVIEW In order to assist in the settlement of ex-servicemen, the activities of the Department continue to be concentrated largely on the acquisition and development of land suitable for this purpose. As will be seen from the figures given in a later stage of this report, a considerable area has been purchased following on negotiations with the owners, while in a number of cases the compulsory sections of the Servicemen's Settlement and Land Sales Act, 1943, have been invoked. The development of land held by the Crown is being proceeded with as intensively as the availability of essential materials permits, and in anticipation of an improvement in the supply position plans are in hand to extend operations. At the 31st March, 1946, the tenants on the books of the Department numbered 34,721, occupying a total area of approximately 17,457,064 acres. LEGISLATION The increase in the country's secondary industries and the need for providing sites for factories and other plant led to the passing of legislation as section 40, Statutes Amendment Act, 1945, to facilitate disposal of Crown and settlement lands as sites for commercial and industrial purposes. Areas so disposed of are, as a general rule, to be leased on a thirty-three-year term perpetually renewable and without right of freehold. Sale in fee-simple is, however, authorized in special circumstances subject to Ministerial approval. The Land Act, 1924, was amended in other respects by the Act quoted.