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The total amount of interest collected for the year amounted to 10s., an increase on the previous year of £30,324 3s. 4d. The total amount of interest collected from the time advances were first made up to the 31st March, 1912, amounted to the sum of £2,238,749, in addition to the repayments of principal £5,421,027, making a grand total of £7,659,776. Compared with previous years, the volume of business transacted has during the last twelve months been exceptionally large ; the staff have worked well,' and deserve commendation for the efficient manner in which the work has been carried out. 5: W. PoYNTON, Superintendent. State-guaranteed Advances Office, Wellington. 1 Ith June, 1912. ADVANCES TO WORKERS BRANCH. Fifth Annual Report and Balance-sheet. The Government Advances to Workers Act was passed on the 29th October, 1906. Applications for loans were first considered by the Board at its meeting on the Bth January, 1907. For the year ended 31st March, 1912. the applications received numbered 2,223, amounting to £750,772, as against 2,125. applications, amounting to £660,892, for the previous year —an increase of 98 applications, in amount £89,880. The advances actually granted during the year numbered 1,624, for £543,840, being an increase in amount over the previous year of £136,080. From the Bth January, 1907, up to the 31st March last the Board had authorized 7,674 advances, amounting to £2,160,665. Applicants to the number of 686 declined the grants offered them, amounting to £158,290, so that the net advances authorized to the 31st March, 1912, numbered 6,988, and amounted to £2,002,375. Classified according to provincial districts, the total advances authorized are as under :— ~ . . i .. , ,■ Amount of Advances P ™™°f Number ot aut horized. District. Applications. . Auckland .. .. .. .. .. ..1,941 516,735 Taranaki .. . . .. "" .. .. 224 60,195 Hawke'sßay .. .. .. .. .. 469 129,915 Wellington" .. .. .. .. ..1,896 557,845 Marlborough . .. ■ ■'.'/. ... .. ' ... ; 247- 70,885 . . Nelson. .. 158 38,505 Westland .. ..... .: .. .. 175 . 37,830 Canterbury .'. .. .. .. ..1,752 -. 529,110 Otago '.. .. .. .. .. .. 540 149,945 Southland .. .. .. .. .. .. 272 69,700 Total .. .. .. .. .. 7,674 £2,160,665 Classified according to provincial districts, the advances authorized during the year ended 31st March, 1912, were,— „ . . , . T _■ c Amount of Advances PJ- 0 ™ 1 Number ot irat horiz«l. .District. Applications. Auckland .. \. .. .. .. .. 476 156,000 Taranaki .. .. .. .. .. .. 62 19,560 Hawke'sßay .. .. 133 39,685 Wellington .. .. .. .. .. 426 137,515 Mail-borough .. .. .. .. .. 60 19,515 Nelson .. .. ... .. 32 9,135 Westland .. .. .. .. .. .. 14 3,245 Canterbury .. .. .. .. " .. 512 170,625 Otago ' .. .. .. 113 36,055. . , Southland .. ~ .. . . .. . . 72 21,575 Total .. .. .. .. .. 1.900 £612,910 The tenure of the advances outstanding is as follows : — „ , Amount. JNumoer. £ g _ d On freeholds .. .. .. .. ..5.206 1.572,668 1 8 On leaseholds .. 393 70,760 0 10 Total .. .. .. .. .. 5,599 £1,643,428 2 6