§ Mr. LINFIELDasked the Minister of Agriculture the number of ex-service men 717W who were settled on holdings, under the Land Settlement Facilities Act, 1919, during the year 1923; and the number of approved applicants still unsupplied?
§ Mr. BUXTONAccording to returns furnished by councils, up to the end of 1922, 16,801 ex-service men had been settled on holdings under the Act of 1919. From returns similarly furnished, up to the end of 1923, 19,190 ex-service men had been provided with holdings, of whom 2,565 had left for various reasons. The returns furnished at the end of 1922 did not distinguish the men who had vacated their holdings, and did not in every case include such men, and for this reason it is not possible to give an exact figure of the number of men who were settled during the year 1923. In reply to the last part of the question, the number of approved ex-service men who applied on or before 1st December, 1920 (the last date for which such applications could qualify for preference over civilians), and who have not yet been provided with holdings, is 4,792.
§ Mr. LINFIELDasked the Minister of Agriculture when his Department intends to report to Parliament on the administration of the Land Settlement Act of 1919?
§ Mr. BUXTONA general Report on the land settlement scheme up to 31st December, 1923, is being prepared, and will be presented to Parliament as soon as possible.