G.—lo.

Actually the number of dairy cattle bought for units in the two seasons was 3,412 head, making the total with stock they brought into the schemes and which became security with the rest for development loans, 5,823 head, without counting yearlings and calves. The area of land in pasture of sorts brought under the various schemes by the owners or occupiers thereof was 16,995 acres. Much of this has been improved and reconditioned with fertilizers and the plough, and properly fenced and subdivided. The area of new land broken into pasture by the 31st of March, 1932, is estimated at 7,882 acres, which necessitated the purchase and distribution of 237,437 lb. of seed, costing £8,827. Estimates, 1931-32. As already stated, the estimates submitted by the field officers of expenditure proposed for the year ending the 31st March, 1932, involved the sum of £33,300. But, in common with those of other schemes in various parts of the Dominion, these were reduced to accord with the reduced allocation of Treasury funds for Native-land development. The appropriation for the North Auckland District was reduced to £28,000. Over the two financial years the Cabinet authorizations were £46,290. Total Expenditure to 31st March, 1932. At the 31st March, 1932, the position reached was as follows : — Development contracts — Bushfelling, scrub - cutting, clearing gorse, £ s. d. £ s. d. stumping, &c., draining, cultivation, and fencing .. .. .. .. 3,808 10 0 Less unemployment subsidies collected 1,161 5 2 2,647 4 10 Supply of fencing material (including posts, 3,6l9fcwt. wire, staples, &c.) .. .. 3,974 16 6 Less unemployment subsidy towards splitting 73 17 5 3,900 19 1 Purchase of grass-seed, 238,834 lb. .. .. 8,873 7 6 Less sales 1,397 lb. .. .. 46 3 9 8,827 3 9 237,437 lb. Other seed .. .. .. .. .. .. 70 17 6 Purchase of fertilizers, 713| tons .. .. .. 3,732 15 8 Building material .. .. .. .. .. 428 15 6 Purchase of stock — 3,412 cows and heifers \ 05 607 10 10 192 bulls f " 200 sheep .. •• • • • • 120 7 3 2 horses .. .. • • • ■ 30 0 0 25,757 18 1 Dairy utensils — 201 separators \ __ 3,151 15 3 414 cans / Farm implements . . ■ • • • • ■ • • ' Discharge of liabilities (fifty-seven accounts) .. 3,20z Miscellaneous (including fees for registration of bills of sale, unapportioned freights, foreman's wages, leasehold land, potato-cultivation, loose tools) .. 895 18 1 Less sundry credits .. • • ■ • 250 8 9 I—— o~rO y T 52,953 13 3 Add balance interest .. • • • • • • 1 9 2 54,854 2 5 Less repayment of advances by settlers .. 6,370 3 2 Less outstanding at 31st March, 1932 •• 2,361 5 7 — o, /01 o y £46,122 13 8 In development work over such an extensive territory as North vouchers able delay between the field data on which payments are ma e a 1? to have been through the appropriate Departments. The cost of muc wor wic _ ,in the figures completed before the 31st of March last (the results of which have been m the figures registered as a set-off against expenditure), and the cost of much material purchasedand suppl ed before th°at date have not been taken into account in the above total. There is more, development operations in the month of March than 111 any o er moi y , created accounts at the end of that month a complete picture showing the expendrture and th' ssets c thereby cannot be given. It is hoped, however that with development ■^ the field officers will make a complete survey of the position to the end of the present financial jear.

2—G. 10.

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