a—9

16

was as bad as February was good, and destroyed all hope of the realization of reasonable expectations. Had the autumn weather been good or even fair through the harvesting-period the province would have benefited enormously. Although the pasture has been so abundant the returns to the dairyfarmer have been only moderate so far. Sonic factories sold their output at the beginning of the season and are paying their suppliers quite good and remunerative returns. The soldiers who are suppliers to these are doing well. The number of such is rather limited, however. Although feed has been so plentiful it is doubtful if the yield of butterfat has kept pace with it. The soldiers found it difficult to get cows at the beginning of the season and impossible to get good breeds. The prices, too, rose very high. It will take some time, of course, to get together herds for soldier settlers which can be relied upon to produce the best results. Now that dairy-produce has hardened on the London market many of the soldiers should receive a substantial bonus in a few months' time. So far as Southland is concerned, the prospects of the soldiers who have settled on the land are most promising. Clearing, burning, grassing, fencing, and building have been pushed on vigorously. Failures there have been and will be. Given reasonable prices and fair weather conditions the soldiers on the land in Southland should become permanent and prosperous farmers.

TABLE 1. Area of Lands proclaimed for Settlement under the Discharged Soldiers Settlement Act, 1915.

Under Section (Ordinary i 3 of the Act. Tenures.) Under Section (Special'. i 4 ol the Act. tenures. j Total Area proclaimed. District. For tho Year ended 31st March, 1022. Total to 31st March, 1022. For the Year ended 31st March, 1922. Total to 31st March, 1922. For tho T . - 1 Year ended * 31st Man*, ,ilBt n Z% 1922. 1!)22 - Total to 81st March, 1922. Ordinary Crown Lands — North Auckland Auckland Hawke'a Bay .. Taranaki Wellington Nelson Marlborough Westland Canterbury Otago Southland Acres. 119 Acres. 1,575 30,035 23,531 12,831 884 20,728 Acres. 2,393 7.323 1,022 77 0,200 Acres. 18,001 97,220 94,103 18,540 08,382 4,058 5,268 480 798 30,199 8,503 Acres. 2,393 7,442 1,022 77 6,200 Acres. 10,570 127,205 117, 634 31,371 00,260 24,786 5,268 22,345 798 118,111 10,199 21!805 87,912 1,690 74 74 Totals 11!) 201,057 17,689 345,552 17,808 546,609 Oheviot Estate, Canterbury 3,356 8,350 Land for Settlement^ — North Auckland Auckland llawke's Bay Taranaki Wellington Nelson Marlborough Westland f lanterbury Otago Southland 707 1,187 3,974 6,022 1,255 327 1 ,494 0,980 18,868 50,104 57,438 IS,783 38,250 29,441 14,585 3,974 6,022 1,255 327 1,494 6.980 18,808 50,104 57,438 18,783 38,957 30,028 14,585 173 44,834 17,652 2,535 3,458 42,I 93 45,241 5,074 173 3,458 87,027 02,893 8,209 Totals 173 66,915 24,110 320,577 24,283 387,492 National Endowment — North Auckland Auckland llawke's Bay Taranaki Wellington Nelson Marlborough .. Westland Canterbury Otago Southland 3,701 878 21,581 31,538 3,732 2,826 899 13,405 3,701 878 21,581 31,538 .'i,732 2,820 899 13,405 5,887 209,567 134,210 6,593 5,887 209,567 134,216 6,593 Totals 4,579 430,304 4,579 430,304 flrnnd totals 4,871 098,270 41,799 609,485 46,670 1,307,701 Note.—During tho yoa: land for discharged soldiers Proclamations were revoked. setting apart 63,530 acres of Crown land an id 38,426 acres of settlement