39

8.—6

Capital Expenditure on Public Works. £ Railway construction, additions, and improvements 3,315,612 Main highways and roads .. .. .. 2,288,217 Hydro-electric supply .. .. .. .. 581,975 Telegraphs and telephones .. .. . . 657,291 Public buildings (including schools) .. .. 817,970 Irrigation, land and river improvements . . . . 283,872 Other public works .. .. .. .. 136,881 Total .. .. .. .. £8,081,818 Preliminary State Balance-sheet prepared as at 31st March, 1929. State Advances Office. The substantial benefits accruing from the activities of the State Advances Office increasingly availed of. During the year, applicants to the number of 6,754 received loans amounting to £6,923,807, as follows :— , T Amount. JN umber. Loans granted to settlers .. .. 2,191 2,187,955 Loans granted to settlers under Rural Advances Branch .. .. .. 779 1,406,860 Loans granted to workers .. .. 3,776 3,323,412 Loans granted to local authorities . . 8 5,580 6,754 £6,923,807 From 10th December, 1928 (when the United Government assumed office), to 31st March, 1930, loans totalling £4,219,895 were granted to 3,495 settlers, £3,851,452 to 4,413 workers, and £5,580 to eight local authorities, making a grand total of £8,076,927 granted to 7,916 applicants. Rural Intermediate Credit. Scheme proving a decided success and contains great possibilities of further benefit to the primary industries of the Dominion. At 30th June, 1929, total advances amounted to £165,480. Repayments coming to hand in a very satisfactory manner. Land-settlement. Importance of successful land-settlement fully realized by the Government. All idle Crown lands suitable for farming are being made productive as soon as possible. During seventeen months ended 30th April last 545,100facres of all classes of rural and suburban Crown lands were selected under various tenures, the number of subdivisions being 2,549. Anticipated that some 161 additional farming sections will be offered for selection by 31st July. Development of Native lands also vigorously pursued. Intensive work at present being carried on under fourteen separate development schemes, while preliminary operations being undertaken on eleven other schemes, involving a total area of 54,000 acres. Thirty properties purchased for land-for-settlement purposes since United Government came into office, comprising an area of 55,592 acres, involving total purchase-price of £525,000 and providing a total of 149 subdivisions. Agriculture. Increased production especially necessary at present time to compensate for reduced national income consequent upon lower prices obtained for Dominion's primary produce. Whole of resources of Departments of Agriculture and Scientific and Industrial Research made available for man on the land. Special research activities undertaken in connection with destruction of noxious weeds, health and nutrition of animals, &c.