7

C.—l

Statement of Capital. The following statement shows the capital controlled by the Lands and Survey Department at 31st March, 1924, and revenue transactions during the financial Year ended 31st March, 1924.

This is the first time that it has been possible to afford such information, and the statement is of the utmost value as indicative of the magnitude of State operations in connection with the lands of the Dominion. Inspection of Offices. During the year the whole of the twelve district offices have been visited by the Inspector, and particular attention has been paid to the inspection of the accounts and revenue, sections. The large volume of work in connection with advances under the, Discharged Soldiers Settlement Act, in addition to the collection of land revenue, makes it necessary to have a complete system of internal check, and one of the most important of the Inspector's duties is to sec that this check is continuously applied. For this purpose frequent visits have to be paid to the various offices, and this means continual, travelling on tho part of the inspecting officer. The organization and control of the staff is a difficult matter in sonic of the district offices on account of the inadequate accommodation provided, but despite this disadvantage the work has been carried out expeditiously owing to the energy and diligence displayed by the members of the staff. In addition to the departmental inspection, the offices are occasionally visited by Inspectors from the Treasury and the Public Service Commissioner's Office, who have always found the work carried out to their satisfaction. An inspection was made of the Chief Drainage Engineer's Office at Auckland, whilst the drainageworks at Hauraki Plains and Waihi. Swamp were also visited for the purpose of checking the preparation and payment of wages, and to see that tho system of recording the receipt and issue of stores is being properly carried out. Land-drainage Operations. The Land Drainage Branch of the Department has been actively engaged during the year, not only in the completion of the many large schemes now in progress, but also in the preliminary investigation of several new projects for the unwatering of large areas of swamp country. For the year ended 31st March, 1924, 1,700,298 cubic yards of spoil was excavated, as against 1,335,140 yards for the previous year. The up-to-date excavating plant now in the possession of the Department has been the great factor in the progressive increase in the work of excavation during the last few years. Fuller particulars of the work of the Branch arc given in Appendix TIL Staff Employment. On the Ist April, 1923, there were, 619 permanent officers in the. Department and 36 officers temporarily appointed, making a total of 655. During the past twelve months 53 new appointments (chiefly junior officers) were made to the permanent staff and 15 appointments to the temporary staff,

Account. Capital, 31st Maroh, 1924. Acorued Revenue. Revenue Charges. Lands and Survey Department—General Land for Settlements Land for Settlements (Discharged Soldiers Settlement). . Cheviot Estate National Endowment Native Land Settlement Hunter Soldiers Assistance Trust Primary Education Endowment Secondary Education Endowment Scenery Preservation National Endowment Trust £ 7,485,700 10,862,400 3,222,050 373,480 5,057,100 2,213,250 19,850 2,294,300 119,100 101,650 19,500 £ 384,985 519,000 131,600 27,850 151,125 74,900 800 113,950 9,350 2,200 420 £ 363,240 467,400 157,000 11,950 177,645 18,650 275 114,670 9,425 2,000 Totals 31,768,380 1,416,180 1,322,255 Rangitaiki Land Drainage Swamp Land Drainage Kauri-gum Industry Hauraki Plains Settlement General Purposes Relief 472,900 331,000 75,00(1 60,500 35,000 16,000 33,000 22,550 1,750 16,900 32,250 20,550 1,575 Totals 974,400 73,300 71,275 Discharged Soldiers Settlement 20,074,665 952,725 1,058,885 Grand totals I 52,817,445 i 2,442,205 2,452,415