Gr.—9.

1932. NEW ZEALAND.

NATIVE LAND COURTS AND OTHER MATTERS UNDER CONTROL OF NATIVE DEPARTMENT. REPORT OF UNDER-SECRETARY FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1932.

Laid on the Table of the House oj Representatives by Leave.

The Hon. the Native Minister, Wellington. Native Department, Ist July, 1932. Herewith is submitted a report upon the activities of the Department for the period ended 31st March, 1932. R. N. Jones, Under-Secretary.

Native Land Courts. The business transacted by the Native Land. Court and the Native Appellate Court is set out in Table A. The fees collected amounted to £3,877, as against £4,908 for the preceding period. Maori Land Boards. The areas of Native land disposed of by private dealings are as follows : , Area. Number. A E _ p Salps 220 10,645 i 6 Leases 270 27,837 2 22 The areas disposed of last year were : Sold, 49,163 acres 3 roods 3 perches ; leased, 43,717 acres 3 roods 9 t)gtcli6S. The Boards received in fees £1,641, as against £1,788 last year, a decrease of £147, while the commissions collected fell from £4,882 last year to £4,149, a decrease of £733, making a total decrease of £880. , ... Native land remaining vested in the Boards at 31st March, 1932, was as follows . A. e. p. Area as at 31st March, 1931 .. .. •• •• •• i «9 Area sold or revested .. .. • • • ■ • • 3"° 0 2^ Balance . • . • • • • • • • ®57,102 031 The funds hold or invested by the Boards decreased by £33,949 6s. during the year. The following are the figures as at 31st March, 1932 : — £ s d On deposit with the Native Trustee .. .. •• - Government securities .. •• •• - Other securities and advances .. • • ■ • '' -' Icq I'a t Cash balances .. .. • • ■ • • • ■ lb 2 Total £595,047 8 3 Native Land Purchase Board. Native land purchased by the Crown amounted to 5,624 acres. Since 1910 1,539,818 acres of Native land have been acquired through the Native Land Purchase Board. I —Gr. 9.