§ 22. Mr. C. WHITEasked the Minister of Agriculture the amount of land which has been acquired for land settlement, together with the price which has been paid for the land; how much of the land is now in the occupation of settlers; and how many ex-service men have received holdings?
Mr. TOWYN JONESThe total area of land acquired by the local authorities and by the Ministry for land settlement is 274,626 acres. Of this area 226,508 acres have been purchased for cash, the purchase money amounting to £9,491,000. The remainder has been purchased for annuities or leased. The total area of the smallholdings provided by the local authorities since the 1st January, 1919, is 179,044 acres. The number of men settled on this land is 12,658, of whom 11,104 are ex-service men and 1,554 civilians. In addition 642 ex-service men and 148 civilians have been accommodated on the Ministry's farm settlements.