Arising from discussions between the Commonwealth War Service Land Settlement authorities and the Closer Settlement Board, it has been decided by Commonwealth authorities to purchase single unit farms for ex-servicemen, in addition to those farms provided under the existing scheme where larger estates and areas of land are developed and subdivided.

This was stated at Hobart yesterday by the Acting Minister for Agriculture (Mr. Brooker). "The Commonwealth War Service Land Settlement authorities," said Mr. Brooker, "although authorizing the purchase of single unit farms for settlers, are not departing in any way from the principles laid down in the agreement between the Commonwealth and State Governments regarding land settlement."

"These conditions briefly are: - That the holding shall be sufficient in size to enable settlers to operate efficiently and to earn a reasonable labour income at the outset, and that the applicant shall be satisfactory

as regards eligibility, suitability, and experience for farm work.

- Under this scheme, the individual farm will be purchased for the common pool, and the applicants desirous of settlement in the particular district in which the individual farm is situated will be classified, the applicant with the highest marking receiving the farm.

If, however, the ex-serviceman who introduces to the Closer Settlement Board the proposal to purchase the farm, is relatively equal in experience and ability to the other intending settlers whose preference is for that district, then he will receive a measure of priority in regard to selection for that particular farm."

The Minister said that landowners who contemplated disposal of their farms should make the first offer to the Closer Settlement board, who would make the necessary investigation as to whether the farm offered was of sufficient size and suitability for the settlement of an ex-serviceman.

The War Service Land Settlement Board seemed to be adopting an unnecessary policy of secrecy, which was causing widespread dissatisfaction among settlers under the scheme.

Mr. Bethune said this in the House of Assembly last night. Members of the board did not hold the confidence of settlers, and the board should be reconstituted, he said. Younger and more energetic men were needed.

The government was attempting to administer the scheme with part-time employees. It was a full time job and should have a larger staff.

Settlers were not being consulted before buildings were erected or improvements effected, and houses were being built on blocks before the blocks were allotted.

Settlers on the Lawrenny estate were being caused a good deal of concern because they had not been consulted on dam sites or the location of fences.

"Settlers should be guaranteed a payable price for their products to give them some economic security," he added.

Editor's note: Mr. Bethune was the local member representing the Lawrenny area.

Two styles of housing were offered to settlers. For some settlers it
seems to have been a matter of luck as to which design they ended up
with, if the press releases are to be believed, as they did not know
which block they would be allocated. If there already was a house
on the block, you took what you got and were grateful. The later
models built on Lawrenny sported a lot of asbestos cement sheet
cladding, as featured in CS 14 above.

House pictures scanned from "War Service Land Settlement:
Progress Report as at April, 1949 by the Hon. JJ Dwyer,
Minister for Agriculture." 1949, No. 20, Issued in advance and in
anticipation of presentation to Parliament .
HH Pimblett, Government Printer, Hobart, 1949.

Conditions of lease and the basis of rent for soldier settlement properties were explained yesterday by the Acting Minister for Agriculture (Mr. Brooker).

Mr. Brooker said he had told Mr. Bethune, M.H.A., following questions from him, that the rent to be paid by a settler under the Commonwealth — State war settlement land service agreement would be determined as at the date of occupation. The same rental would continue throughout the period of the lease. The properties would be developed to a stage of productivity and then written down so that the settler could obtain a minimum income of £ 260 a year. The properties, however, would have a potential greater development, and any development work carried out by the settler would increase his revenue and be to his advantage.

Under the Commonwealth — State agreement the tenure of properties would be on a perpetual lease. This form of land tenure was new to Tasmania.

The drafting of the lease was at present in the hands of the Crown Law Department. As soon as the lease had Under the Commonwealth — State agreement the tenure of properties would be on a perpetual lease. This form of land tenure was new to Tasmania. The drafting of the lease was at present in the hands of the Crown Law Department. As soon as the lease had been drafted it would be considered by the Closer Settlement Board and submitted to the Director of War Service Land Settlement for approval.

Mr. Brooker added that at a meeting of the Postwar Land Development Committee yesterday, consideration was given to the purchase of a number of additional properties. These were selected and the proposal would be placed before Cabinet and the Commonwealth authorities prior to acquisition steps being taken.

It was hoped that 18 settlers would be able to occupy war service land settlement farms on King island in time for the 1948 dairy season, the chairman of the Closer Settlement Board (Mr. S.R. Adams) told the Commonwealth grants Commission in Hobart yesterday.

In an 18 page report, Mr. Adams reviewed the progress of the settlement scheme in Tasmania in the past year. Pegarah project on King Island consisted of 35,863 acres, of which the separate blocks (30,635 acres) had been acquired by mutual agreement. The total cost of areas on which agreement had been reached was £ 53,160 - £ 1/14/7 an acre, Mr. Adams said. A total of 5,000 acres had been cleared, and sowing was in progress, but the board had experienced difficulty in obtaining heavy equipment and transporting it to the island, Mr. Adams said. However, it was expected confidently that about 10,000 to 12,000 acres could be cleared each year. Roads for the project had been planned, and the Public Works Department would begin construction soon.

Reekara, Bootjack

At the Reekara project, 6,162 acres were being acquired, but the area would not be developed until the Pegarah project was completed. The Bootjack project, Flinders Island, consisted of 1,736 acres to be used for dairying, and investigations had been made into the possibility of securing other areas for settlement. It had been intended to settle 1,972 acres at the Arthur River estuary for the production of prime lambs, but the demand for this type of farming was practically negligible and most ex-servicemen were more interested in securing leases on small islands nearby, he said.

The purchase of Epping estate, 5,527 acres, 25 miles from Launceston, suitable for prime lamb production, had been approved by the Commonwealth authorities, Mr. Adams said. The estate would be subdivided into 8 farms.

Other projects recommended to the Commonwealth but not yet approved included 2,500 acres in the Southern Midlands to provide 3 prime lamb farms, and an area near Burnie to be divided into 5 dairy and mixed farms.

The committee was considering also the purchase of smaller single farm areas in different parts of the State.

Selection Care

Mr. Adams said that in other States settlers, regardless of experience, training or other factors were included in the ballot for farms, but in Tasmania selection of applicants was made on the basis of merit and experience.

Selection of the first group of settlers by the board was:

• Prime lambs, North Midlands 19;
• Central Midlands 3,
• South Midlands 8;
• Wool, North Midlands 2,
• South Midlands 8;
• Dairy, King Island 18.

He said 1,279 applications had been received from ex-servicemen, of whom 577 required assistance by re-establishment loans, leaving 702 requiring land. The loans were paid to ex-servicemen during the first 12 months of their re-establishment on the land, and were proving of material assistance to men going back to their own farms, Mr. Adams said.

Pictures scanned from "Annual Report of the Closer Settlement Board, 1949", p8.
HH Pimblett, Government Printer, Hobart, Tasmania.

Farming operations on Lawrenny estate conducted by the Closer Settlement Board, up until June 30th returned a profit of £ 9,228, the chairman of the board (Mr. S.R. Adams) told the Commonwealth Grants Committee in Hobart yesterday.

Mr. Adams said the 82,000 acre estate, which had been taken over as a going concern from Mr. E. Brock on July 1, 1946, had been worked by the board under the manager-ship of an eligible ex-serviceman. A total of 57 bales of wool had been marketed for a net return of £ 23,131, or £ 405/16/01 1/2 per bale, he said.

Mr. Adams said the Public Works Department had been asked

to construct 600 chain, or 7.5 miles, of new access roadways on the estate soon.

Temporary housing had been erected on the estate for trainees who were gaining experience before settlement. Some trainees were carrying out development work on holdings they would eventually occupy.

Foundations had been laid for several houses, and at present the homes, which were being prefabricated at the Agricultural Bank factory at Prince of Wales Bay, were being transported to the area. Difficulty had been experienced in obtaining tradesman to go into the country to build houses, and the Agricultural Bank had decided to prefabricate the buildings in Hobart and transport them in 16 ft. sections to the site. Mr. Adams said farm buildings would be erected in a similar manner.

Agricultural Bank officials seemed mystified when asked why prospective soldier settlers on the Lawrenny estate were not allowed to talk to the Press. They stated all they knew of it was that a circular had been sent around to the effect that statements must be made only over the signature of a Minister.

The housing division of the Agricultural Bank is making good progress with the construction of houses for farms being developed under the war service land settlement scheme.

The Minister for Agriculture (Mr. Dwyer) has been advised of this by the Minister for Housing (Mr. Aylett).

At the Lawrenny estate, in addition to temporary houses and accommodation units erected for servicemen settlers and men assisting with the sub-divisional development, two permanent houses are occupied and six are nearly complete. Another six homes will begin soon.

The position on King Island is difficult, shipping space is extremely limited and there is a shortage of skilled labour.

Some of the homes were being pre-framed in sections at the bank's Hobart factory. A large consignment of prepared building material was railed to Launceston this week, and will be shipped to the island immediately. When this material reaches the island there will be sufficient components for 13 houses. Endeavours are being made to secure a special ship for building materials.

Construction at Woolmer's estate near Longford has begun, and two pre-framed houses are on the site. Construction of another five is proceeding.

Tenders have been invited for the construction of farm dwellings on the Macquarie estate.

Improved methods of pre-framing and transport being evolved to speed up the land settlement building programme will largely offset the shortage of suitable skilled labour in country areas.

Pictures scanned from "Annual Report of the Closer Settlement Board, 1949", p8.
HH Pimblett, Government Printer, Hobart, Tasmania.

A scene many mainland cattle men became familiar with in the 1980's, and many hated with a passion; a vet doing a TB (tuberculosis ) test on a cow.

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