C.—l.

The results were most satisfactory, as, in spite of the very large amount of ragwort, there were very few losses and the wethers were all fattened and sold at a profit. The additional sheep enabled a much better pasture-control on the various sections which were carrying ewes, and this had the effect of reducing the losses due to the " bush sickness " very considerably and also enabled a much larger number of lambs to be sold than has been the case previously. The settlers who participated in this experiment are now under the control of the State Advances Corporation and arrangements are being made to ensure that a fresh supply of sheep will be available in time this season. The success of the first year's experiment warrants close attention being given to this district to make certain that proper provision is made for winter feed, additional fencing erected so that grazing can be properly controlled and adequate arrangements for the marketing of produce, especially fat lambs. The standard of work has been maintained and it has been found advisable to adopt standard plans for houses, cow-sheds, store-sheds, fences, gates, &c., on all of the later blocks. There has been an increased output of work due to higher wages being paid, and also to the greater experience of the men. Although some of the blocks are producing well, it is desired to stress the desirability of continuing the farming of them by this Branch as at present. By this means not only will settlers have a better start, but also the capacity of the blocks to produce will be better known, as strict accounts will be kept, and although there will be delay it is felt that this disadvantage will be more than offset by there being a far better chance of the settler succeeding and the Crown's security will be better protected. It must be remembered that in the past it has taken the old pioneer settlers a lifetime to reach the stage that can now be reached in from five to ten years by the present methods. The prospective settlers who are placed on land which has been properly developed will be fully occupied in maintaining the improvements and increasing the production, and it is both possible and desirable to lay down a satisfactory policy of farm routine and have it carried out than to expect a settler to develop new ground and maintain improvements, which may be beyond his capacity. This would lead to the creation of dissatisfied men and women and Crown securities again reverting. In conclusion, it is desired to draw attention to the fact that there has been very little sickness or dissatisfaction amongst the 820 men, women, and children who depend on the schemes for their living.

Schedule I. —Comparative Table of Gross Production on Four Main Blocks for Three Years ended 31st March, 1937.

Schedule 2 .—Average Wool Returns from Four Main Blocks during the Three Years ended 31st March, 1937.

34

α-i. 34 The results were most satisfactory, as, in spite of the very large amount of ragwort, there were very few losses and the wethers were all fattened and sold at a profit. The additional sheep enabled a much better pasture-control on the various sections which were carrying ewes, and this had the effect of reducing the losses due to the " bush sickness " very considerably and also enabled a much larger number of lambs to be sold than has been the case previously. The settlers who participated in this experiment are now under the control of the State Advances Corporation and arrangements are being made to ensure that a fresh supply of sheep will be available in time this season. The success of the first year's experiment warrants close attention being given to this district to make certain that proper provision is made for winter feed, additional fencing erected so that grazing can be properly controlled and adequate arrangements for the marketing of produce, especially fat lambs. The standard of work has been maintained and it has been found advisable to adopt standard plans for houses, cow-sheds, store-sheds, fences, gates, &c, on all of the later blocks. There has been an increased output of work due to higher wages being paid, and also to the greater experience of the men. Although some of the blocks are producing well, it is desired to stress the desirability of continuing the farming of them by this Branch as at present. By this means not only will settlers have a better start, but also the capacity of the blocks to produce will be better known, as strict accounts will be kept, and although there will be delay it is felt that this disadvantage will be more than offset by there being a far better chance of the settler succeeding and the Crown's security will be better protected. It must be remembered that in the past it has taken the old pioneer settlers a lifetime to reach the stage that can now be reached in from five to ten years by the present methods. The prospective settlers who are placed on land which has been properly developed will be fully occupied in maintaining the improvements and increasing the production, and it is both possible and desirable to lay down a satisfactory policy of farm routine and have it carried out than to expect a settler to develop new ground and maintain improvements, which may be beyond his capacity. This would lead to the creation of dissatisfied men and women and Crown securities again reverting. In conclusion, it is desired to draw attention to the fact that there has been very little sickness or dissatisfaction amongst the 820 men, women, and children who depend on the schemes for their living. Schedule I.— Compaeative Table of Gross Production on Four Main Blocks fob Three Years ended 31st March, 1937. Butterfat. Fat Lambs. Fat Sheep. Store Sheep. Wool. o <O l> iO SD l> IO 5O l> W5 <g £• 4h to «o 4 in to 4i ■ *a <& -a «i «J 3 1£ <£ sssisssissssisi £££££££££££££££ Pururu 201 547 1,059 135 293 56 126 185 15 188 456 175 53 93 415 Lee's Nil 268 556 74 129 301 Nil 6 82 32 2 93 10 28 133 Nsatamahine 416 1,097 1,834 732 1,149 435 55 264 804 330 591 7 223 386 717 Mairoa .. Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil 326 Nil 767 916 Nil Nil Nil Nil 69 278 Totals .. 617 1,912 3,449 941 1,571 1,118 181 1,222 1,817 550 1,049 275 286 576 1,543 Dairy Cattle. Run Cattle. Pigs. Sundries. Total Gross Revenue. ift tô i> IO SO l> Iβ <© l> 'O <O l> O O l> S ' « « » «a cocpspeocpcOMco M cp 4, ,i A -A .A i 4. J> A 4. A A 4 & A g § § % §§§§§§§§§ g S ■r-1 ,—I rH rH i—IrHi—It—i ,-h t—i r-1 r-[ t—( rH t—I o £ £ p ££■££££££ £ £ £ Pururu Nil 86 61 185 501 556 14 36 149 4 11 19 899 2,208 2,505 Lee ' s 2 Nil 123 Nil. Nil Nil Nil 38 53 Nil 1 5 118 472 1,346 Nsatamahine 380 80 337 Nil 304 181 48 120 214 4 19 33 2,190 4,010 4,562 Mairoa .. Nil Nil Nil Nil 476 Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil 1 1 Nil 1,313 1,521 Totals .. 382 166 521 185 1,281 737 62 194 416 8 32 58 3,207 8,003 9,934 J_ Schedule 2. Average Wool Returns from Four Main Blocks during the Three Years ended»31st March, 1937. Increase 1936-37 compared with 1934-35. 1935-36. 1936-37. "j 1934-35. 1935-36. Number of bales .. 48 55 76 28 21 Weight of wool (pounds) 17,717 20,597 28,471 10,754 7,874 Value of wool .. £285 15s. 2d. £576 10s. 3d. £1,541 15s. 8d. £1,256 0s. 6d. £965 5s. 5d. Price per pound .. 3-87d. 6-72d. 12-99d. 9-12d. 6-27d. Price per bale .. £5 19s. Id. £10 9s. 8d. £20 5s. 9d. £14 6s. 8d. £9 16s. Id.

α-i. 34 The results were most satisfactory, as, in spite of the very large amount of ragwort, there were very few losses and the wethers were all fattened and sold at a profit. The additional sheep enabled a much better pasture-control on the various sections which were carrying ewes, and this had the effect of reducing the losses due to the " bush sickness " very considerably and also enabled a much larger number of lambs to be sold than has been the case previously. The settlers who participated in this experiment are now under the control of the State Advances Corporation and arrangements are being made to ensure that a fresh supply of sheep will be available in time this season. The success of the first year's experiment warrants close attention being given to this district to make certain that proper provision is made for winter feed, additional fencing erected so that grazing can be properly controlled and adequate arrangements for the marketing of produce, especially fat lambs. The standard of work has been maintained and it has been found advisable to adopt standard plans for houses, cow-sheds, store-sheds, fences, gates, &c, on all of the later blocks. There has been an increased output of work due to higher wages being paid, and also to the greater experience of the men. Although some of the blocks are producing well, it is desired to stress the desirability of continuing the farming of them by this Branch as at present. By this means not only will settlers have a better start, but also the capacity of the blocks to produce will be better known, as strict accounts will be kept, and although there will be delay it is felt that this disadvantage will be more than offset by there being a far better chance of the settler succeeding and the Crown's security will be better protected. It must be remembered that in the past it has taken the old pioneer settlers a lifetime to reach the stage that can now be reached in from five to ten years by the present methods. The prospective settlers who are placed on land which has been properly developed will be fully occupied in maintaining the improvements and increasing the production, and it is both possible and desirable to lay down a satisfactory policy of farm routine and have it carried out than to expect a settler to develop new ground and maintain improvements, which may be beyond his capacity. This would lead to the creation of dissatisfied men and women and Crown securities again reverting. In conclusion, it is desired to draw attention to the fact that there has been very little sickness or dissatisfaction amongst the 820 men, women, and children who depend on the schemes for their living. Schedule I.— Compaeative Table of Gross Production on Four Main Blocks fob Three Years ended 31st March, 1937. Butterfat. Fat Lambs. Fat Sheep. Store Sheep. Wool. o <O l> iO SD l> IO 5O l> W5 <g £• 4h to «o 4 in to 4i ■ *a <& -a «i «J 3 1£ <£ sssisssissssisi £££££££££££££££ Pururu 201 547 1,059 135 293 56 126 185 15 188 456 175 53 93 415 Lee's Nil 268 556 74 129 301 Nil 6 82 32 2 93 10 28 133 Nsatamahine 416 1,097 1,834 732 1,149 435 55 264 804 330 591 7 223 386 717 Mairoa .. Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil 326 Nil 767 916 Nil Nil Nil Nil 69 278 Totals .. 617 1,912 3,449 941 1,571 1,118 181 1,222 1,817 550 1,049 275 286 576 1,543 Dairy Cattle. Run Cattle. Pigs. Sundries. Total Gross Revenue. ift tô i> IO SO l> Iβ <© l> 'O <O l> O O l> S ' « « » «a cocpspeocpcOMco M cp 4, ,i A -A .A i 4. J> A 4. A A 4 & A g § § % §§§§§§§§§ g S ■r-1 ,—I rH rH i—IrHi—It—i ,-h t—i r-1 r-[ t—( rH t—I o £ £ p ££■££££££ £ £ £ Pururu Nil 86 61 185 501 556 14 36 149 4 11 19 899 2,208 2,505 Lee ' s 2 Nil 123 Nil. Nil Nil Nil 38 53 Nil 1 5 118 472 1,346 Nsatamahine 380 80 337 Nil 304 181 48 120 214 4 19 33 2,190 4,010 4,562 Mairoa .. Nil Nil Nil Nil 476 Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil 1 1 Nil 1,313 1,521 Totals .. 382 166 521 185 1,281 737 62 194 416 8 32 58 3,207 8,003 9,934 J_ Schedule 2. Average Wool Returns from Four Main Blocks during the Three Years ended»31st March, 1937. Increase 1936-37 compared with 1934-35. 1935-36. 1936-37. "j 1934-35. 1935-36. Number of bales .. 48 55 76 28 21 Weight of wool (pounds) 17,717 20,597 28,471 10,754 7,874 Value of wool .. £285 15s. 2d. £576 10s. 3d. £1,541 15s. 8d. £1,256 0s. 6d. £965 5s. 5d. Price per pound .. 3-87d. 6-72d. 12-99d. 9-12d. 6-27d. Price per bale .. £5 19s. Id. £10 9s. 8d. £20 5s. 9d. £14 6s. 8d. £9 16s. Id.