a—9

7

APPENDIX.

REPORTS OF COMMISSIONERS OF CROWN LANDS. North Auckland. (R. P. Grevillk, Commissioner of Crown Lands.) The progress of soldier farmers during the past year has been on the whole fairly satisfactory. In fact, if it were possible to compare their position and their rate of progress with that of an equal number of men who had started farming at the same time, under similar conditions, and who had to contend against the same drawbacks that the soldier farmers have had to contend against, I do not think the other men would have shown any better results than the soldiers have shown. I think the soldier farmer in my district has made an honest effort to make a success of his farm. A proportion of them, of course, have failed, but this was only to be expected ; but there are a large proportion who have succeeded. In fact, a pleasing feature in looking through our books is to find the number of soldier farmers who have met all their obligations, and who, after having obtained their original advance, have been little or no trouble to the office. The difficulty so many of the soldier farmers have been faced with is that when they come to the limit of their current account—that is, they have received the maximum amount allowed by the Act— and having exhausted the little capital they had of their own, they find themselves confronted with the necessity of buying more manures and effecting further improvements, and buying additional or better stock ; to meet this necessary expenditure they are without funds. This, of course, is a question that has been concerning the Department for a long time, and, no doubt, some solution of the difficulty will be evolved before long. Early this year the desire for outside investigation into soldier settlement became rather widespread, and as an outcome independent Inquiry Boards were set up, these Boards being appointed in October, and commencing their inquiries shortly afterwards. Unfortunately, among the soldiers, and, in fact, with the public generally, the impression prevailed that these Boards were really being set up to revalue the soldiers' land, and many of the soldiers looked forward to the Inquiry Board's visit and report as an event which was going to result in a probable reduction of the valuation of their farm. Generally the setting-up of the Inquiry Boards and their investigations has had a disturbing influence on some of the soldier farmers, some of whom, probably those in a bad way, had began to hope almost impossible results from the investigations of the Inquiry Boards. However, as the results of the various Boards will soon be made public, and the proposed Government action arising therefrom will be known, it is unnecessary to make any further reference to the Boards. Applications under Discharged Soldiers Settlement Act. Owing to the restrictions of advances under the Discharged Soldiers Settlement Act the applications for financial assistance were considerably less than the previous year, the total number being 1,037. Of these, 761 were recommended for the approval of the Minister as follows :— Purchase of farms, 12 ; erection of dwellings, 397 ; purchase of dwellings, 2 ; advances for stock, &c, 350. The total amount recommended was £354,402, of- which £58,547 was on current account. Movement amongst returned soldiers has been reflected in the number of applications received for transfer of houses and farms, 155 houses being transferred and 50 farms. Up to the end of the year 1,065 farms had been purchased under section 2 of the Act, and 62 have been abandoned, mainly owing to the incapacity of the soldier. These comprise an area of 10,369 acres of a valuation of £125,097. Twenty-four farms have been disposed of comprising 2,810 acres, realizing the sum of £46,969. A considerable amount of time is given by the staff to inquiries regarding abandoned farms, and they are thoroughly alive to the importance of disposing of these properties without much loss to the Department. It is a noticeable fact that the incoming purchaser has proved himself a much better mortgagor than the outgoing one. To date the Department has advanced £2,199,049 to purchase and erect 2,613 dwellings. The majority of the mortgagors are honouring their contracts, and I do not think any loss will occur in this branch of the work. Considering the number in the city the arrears are surprisingly small, and, where a soldier has got into arrears, investigation has proved that his position has arisen through sickness or unemployment. In these cases a certain amount of latitude is given, and when these temporary difficulties have been overcome the mortgagors have made an honest endeavour to fulfil their engagements. Power of sale has been exercised in twenty-four cases. Of these properties sixteen have found ready purchasers with no loss. From those houses not disposed of rent is being obtained.