NEW ZEALAND R.S.A.

Digger (Invercargill RSA), Issue 18, 16 July 1920, Page 9

NEW ZEALAND R.S.A.

The followmg letter from the -Minister of Lands is in reply to a letter from Head. quarters asking for particulars regarding 700,000 acres mentioned by the Prime Minister, as being available for settlement. Dear Sir,- — In reply to your letter of the 11th instant, I beg to advise you that the total areas of land available for settlement by discharged soldiers, as at the 31st ultimo, was 691,141 acres, distributed throughout the Dominion as follo'ws : — This area varies from day to day, for'instance since Mst ujtimo an area of 100,000 acres has been ballotted for since this return was made up. Land District. Area (Acres). North Auckland 61,325 Auckland 92,150 Hawjte's Bay 81,922 Taranaki 39,834 Wellington 5,695 Nelson 77,440 Marlborough 5,440 Westland - 3,830 Canterbury 31,724 Otago 276,798 Southland 14,913 A consid,erable proportion of this area is either advertised already or will be put on the market shortly. The land suitable for farm holdings and runs, totals 673,756 acres, while an area of 17,385 acres is considered suitable for sniall farms, such as, poultry, fruit growing bee keeping, etc. I trust that this information will be sufficient for your pnrposes asowing to the very great amount of work thrown upon the officers of the department I regret that it is not possible to supply the information asked for in more detail, but I would remind you that the various branches of your Association are supplied with th^ posters and land guide, giving 1 fuB particulars of all land to be placed on the market as soon as they are published, and this should, I think, be sufficient for your purposes. — Yours etc., (Sgd.) D. H. GUTHRIE, Minister of Lands. Wellington, June 25th, 1920.