Resettlement_Department_Annual_Report_1955-1956 — Page 23

35. Another common occupation in squatter areas is market gardening. In fact quite large areas may consist almost entirely of cultivation with only a few dozen huts. It is unfortunately necessary to put such squatters out of business as alternative sites for agriculture are not available. For this reason it was decided in 1954 that ex-gratia crop compensation should be paid as a temporary measure to persons who had been cultivating the land for some considerable time. The cultiva- tors themselves are also offered domestic resettlement if the huts in which they live have to be cleared. This offer of ex-gratia crop compensation is not made to persons who have started cultivation since October, 1954. These are warned that such cultivation is illegal and that they will receive no ex-gratia compensation when the time comes for the land to be cleared.

36. Where squatter cultivation has to be cleared the first step is always the preparation of a large scale plan by the department's own staff showing the boundaries of all the fields. The areas occupied by each different crop, and even by different sowings of the same crop, are then plotted, as are the positions of all fruit trees and flowering shrubs. The next step is the preparation of a schedule showing the number of square feet of each crop and the actual numbers of each kind of tree and shrub cultivated by each family. The amount of compensation is then calculated by the Department of Agriculture on the basis of current market prices. Finally, compensation is paid in cash by officers of the department about one week before possession of the land is required.

37. The techniques involved in squatter clearance and resettlement operations have been described in considerable detail. These techniques, which require well-trained staff with a high degree of responsibility, patience and tact, have been developed during the past two years for the express purpose of enabling the department to achieve its fundamental tasks of eliminating the squatter problem, freeing urgently needed Crown land for permanent development, and resettling the squatters in conditions where they may learn the responsibilities and enjoy the privileges of citizenship.

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