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1919. NEW ZEALAND.

LAND FOR SETTLEMENTS ACT, 1908 (REPORT ON THE).

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly in compliance with Section 85 of the Land jor Settlements Act, 1908.

The Land Purchase Inspector and Chairman of the Board of Land Purchase Commissioners to the Minister of Lands. Sir,— Wellington, 30th August, 1919.' I have the honour to submit the report of the Department for the year ending the. 31st March, 1919. L,and for Settlements. As in the previous year, the purchases made have been entirely for discharged soldiers, and the Department has accordingly been kept extremely busy. The number of properties considered was 708, of an area of 714,531 acres. A very considerable number of these were inspected, but a. large proportion had to be declined for various reasons, the principal being the difficulty of subdividing into areas of a, reasonable capital value, cost of reading, and want of suitable homestead-sites. The prices asked were in most instances far in excess of the taxable value, but this cannot be accepted as the true value of a property, as the present valuations are in many cases obsolete or taken on a. pre-war basis. As a matter of fact, very few, if any, properties can be purchased at the Government valuation. This is a matter requiring early consideration. A good many landowners are showing a true spirit of patriotism by assisting discharged soldiers to take up lands, and it is worthy of consideration if this mode of settlement should not be made compulsory, especially in the case of owners holding large areas or areas of a, high value. There has been an increased number of single farms purchased under section 3 of the Discharged Soldiers Settlement Amendment Act, 1917, besides what is dealt with under section 2, which is administered by the Lands Department. The area purchased for selection during the year was 37,263 acres, at a cost of £556,810 ; and for individual soldiers, 4,916 acres, at £88,577 : total, 42,179 acres, amounting to £645,387. There is an increased demand for land throughout the Dominion, consequently the Department has to meet considerable competition in its dealings. The Teviot property is still being carried on. The winter conditions last year were very severe, but the losses were not so great as anticipated. The sheep came in for shearing in good condition, and the percentage of lambs was quite up to the average. The property is now being got ready for settlement. . L,and Settlement Finance Act. There were no transactions during the year under this Act. Appended will be found the usual tables. John D. Eitchie, Chairman.