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1924. N X W ZEALAND.

STATE ADVANCES OFFICE (REPORT BY THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1924.

Laid before Parliament pursuant to Subsection (3) of Section 64 of the Stale Advances Act, 1913.

ADVANCES TO SETTLERS BRANCH. Thirtieth Annual Report and Balance-sheet. The Amendment Act of last session authorized the advancing of loans to settlers up to £3,500, in lieu of £2,000 as previously, and authority was also given to advance 75 per cent, of the value of the security, in lieu of 60 per cent, as formerly. The result has been a great increase in the number of applications received and the amounts applied for. The following is a statement showing the advances authorized for settlers by the Board during the year, and classified according to provincial districts : — Provincial Number of Amount, of Advances District. Applications. authorised. Auckland .. .. ■ 2,787 2,413,867 Taranaki .. .. .. .. ..363 382,665 Hawke'sßay .. .. .. .. .. 241 225,900 Wellington .. .. .. .. .. 1,005 778,270 Marlborough .. .. .. .. .. 92 77,980 Nelson .... .. .. .. 73 72,300 Westland .. .. .. .. .. 90 49,420 Canterbury .. .. .. .- .. 584 436.425 Otago.. .. .. .. .- .. 167 166,570 Southland .. .. .. .. ..270 286,540 Totals .. .. .. ..5,672 £4,889,937 The total advances to settlers now current are as follows :— Number. Amount. Not exceeding £500 .. .. .. .. 14,893 3,512,013 6 4 Exceeding £500 but not exceeding £1,000 .. .. 3,611 3,036,786 5 8 Exceeding £1,000 but not exceeding £2,000 .. 1,762 2,332,564 10 2 Exceeding £2,000 but not exceeding £3,500 .. 258 619,830 3 1 Totals .. . .. ..20,524 £9,501,194 5 3 The, number and amounts of current advances on freehold and leasehold are as follows :— Number. On freeholds .. .. .. .. .. 12,757 6,743,289 1 2 On leaseholds . . .. .. .. ..7,534 2,591,036 2 9 On freeholds and leaseholds combined .'. .. 233 166,869 1 4 Totals .. .. .. ..20,524 £9,501,1.94 5 3 The number and amounts of current advances on rural and urban and suburban land are as follows :— Number. On rural land .. '.. .. .. .. 12,286 5,766,139 3 7 On urban and suburban land ~. .. .. 8,238 3,735,055 1 8 Totals .. .. .. . 20,524 £9,501,194 5 3

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