c.—ii.

1932. NEW ZEALAND.

DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND SURVEY. RANGITAIKI LAND DRAINAGE. REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1932, TOGETHER WITH STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly in pursuance of Section 10 of the Rangitaiki Land Drainage Act, 1910.

g IB Department of Lands and Survey, Wellington, Ist July, 1932. I have the honour to submit herewith the report upon drainage operations in the Rangitaiki Plains for the year ended 31st March, 1932, pursuant to the provisions of the Rangitaiki Land Drainage Act, 1910. The accompanying statement of accounts and balance-sheet shows the financial transactions for the year, and the position of the account as at the 31st March last. I have, &c., W. Robertson, Under-Secretary for Lands. The Hon. E. A. Ransom, Minister of Lands.

•REPORT OF CHIEF DRAINAGE ENGINEER. Sir, — I have the honour to submit report on the above works for the year ending 31st March, 1932, as provided by the Rangitaiki Land Drainage Act, 1910. The year under review witnessed the cessation of capital expenditure on this area. For some years it has been our policy to complete the original programme of works and the many extensions "made desirable by the rapid development of the area. In many cases the completion of construction has had to await the necessarily slow process of consolidating and stabilizing the country. I have elaborated in previous reports the point that the stopping of capital expenditure does not mean that all possible or desirable works for the complete drainage and protection of the area have been undertaken. It is considered that the works as originally planned and undertaken have reached a stage where all future expenditure can equitably come under the heading of maintenance. Any further desirable extensions of the scheme come under the heading of works benefiting isolated areas, and estimated to cost more than it would be equitable to load on to the general rating ; or are of such a magnitude that the area could not reasonably hope (in its present stage of development) to pay interest and sinking fund on the outlay.