VPRS 15606 Files of Applicants for the Unemployment Land Settlement Scheme

Full description

This series consists of files for applicants for the Unemployment Land Settlement Scheme. Details given in the applicants whose application was considered by a Lands Board are the name and address of the applicant and the decision of the Local Lands Board appointed to hear these applications or the failure of the applicant to appear at the hearing. Attached may be a sworn application form giving details of the applicant's family and financial situation. These files usually have a single tick on the front.

In the P2 consignment are files for persons who declined the offer of a block of land. Additional details are the location of the blocks of land offered and the reasons why the offer was declined either in the form of correspondence or notes by officials of the Department. These files usually have a double tick on the front.

Also included in the P2 consignment are the refused applications. These consist of the letters sent by applicants, sometimes marked by officers. Some letters have attached copies of correspondence to the applicant or to politicians who have made enquiries in the applicant's interest.

Land was available for the settlement of unemployed persons on the land as the Closer Settlement Board had land already purchased or reserved for the purposes of closer and/or soldier settlement. For example, under Section 99 of the Closer Settlement Act 1928 permits could be issued for grazing and cultivation on land acquired by the Board but not yet disposed of or applied for under a conditional purchase lease.

Under Section 6 of the Unemployment Relief Amendment Act 1930, sums of money were provided for these settlers to travel to the land and for the acquisition of hand tools and domestic use stock with under, initially, the supervision of the Unemployment Relief Works Board (VA 3146). Files relating to the provision of these funds may be seen in VPRS 10383 Unemployment Relief Files.