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PART II. —STATE DEVELOPMENT SCHEMES. The most important of the schemes now in operation for the development of the lands of the Maori people, and for assisting them in farming, are those which are financed out of moneys provided by the State and which are administered by the Board of Native Affairs under the authority of Part I of the Native Land Amendment Act, 1936. For purposes of administration these schemes are grouped in Maori Land Board, districts, and it is proposed in this part of the report to review their operations during the past year. It may be mentioned by way of introduction that there are three classes or kinds of schemes which come under the above heading, viz. : — (1) Land development schemes : Which have for their object the development and settlement of blocks or compact areas of Native land—e.g., Horohoro and Waimiha. (2) Unit development schemes embracing a group of settlers' farms : For further developing small holdings of lands already settled on or being farmed by Native individuals or families—e.g., Bay of Islands and Ruatoki. (3) Base farms : Which have been established for the purpose of assembling, holding, and .distributing live-stock to surrounding schemes —e.g., Manukau Farm. The plan in which this section of the report is presented is as follows : — A general report on the schemes in a district, narratives on each scheme, full statistical data concerning all schemes, and summarized receipts and payments accounts. TOKERAU MAORI LAND DISTRICT. The map of the Tokerau or Northen district, which stretches from Auckland City to Cape Reinga, reveals a long and rugged coast-line indented by numerous and extensive tidal tributaries and arms of the sea. Within the boundaries of this peninsula one-fourth of the Native population of New Zealand reside and own nearly 500,000 acres of tribal lands. The lands of North Auckland are in the main of medium quality only, but the climate is generous The areas held by Natives, however, offer only limited scope for land-settlement, and it will be essential for many of the people to look to industry and trades for their absorption into the economic life of the country. As regards Native farming, a noticeable improvement on all sides is to be seen, and many holdings are now reaching the self-supporting stage. Much cleaning up has been done, and with the judicious use of fertilizers the pastures are showing improvement. In all areas supervisors report that a greater number of heifers were raised last season than previously, while the quality and type are of a good standard. In some cases the supervisors have a little difficulty in impressing on the Maori mind the necessity to thoroughly prepare the land for the laying-down of pastures and then to diligently attend to his daily routine farming duties. In some cases, also, he does not fully realize the necessity to always conserve sufficient winter fodder to carry his stock through an unfavourable season. The dairy factories and Dairy Instructors report that a great improvement has been effected in the production conditions on the Native farms, the installation of suitable water-supplies and the erection of cow-sheds to comply with the Dairy Industry Act regulations having largely been responsible for this. Comparative returns of grading taken out by the dairy companies reveal that the difference in grading between European and Maori suppliers is very small, while the general care and attention in the cleanliness of the sheds has been favourably commented upon by the Dairy Inspectors. Herd-testing in the Mangonui and Hokianga districts was continued, and extensive culling of herds in all localities was undertaken. The year ended 31st March, 1939, has been a trying one in so far as climatic conditions were concerned. A cold, wet winter and the absence of adequate shelter in several areas caused trouble in many herds. Although mammitis was not as noticeable as in previous years, vaginitis has been responsible for many of the cows not coming into profit this season. The pastures were liberally top-dressed last autumn, but an exceptionally dry summer seriously interfered with the growth. Shortage of water also presented a major problem on most farms in the far North, where even the paspalum pastures, usually well suited to a dry season, suffered from the rigours of the protracted dry spell and provided scant feed for stock. All dairy factories report a decline in butterfat production, but in so far as the Native farms are concerned the top-dressing of pastures and the cultivation of further areas has enabled additional stock to be carried, and consequently the total poundage produced will be in excess of former years. The negotiations with the Tokerau District Maori Land Board for the transfer of the Te Kao Block were completed. In addition to the fifty settlers taken over from the Board's scheme, forty other applicants, including a number on the east coast at Pakiri, near Leigh, were brought under the project. An area of land was acquired at Oturu, near Awanui, for the enlargement of existing Native holdings, and several small areas of Crown land adjacent to Native communities were also taken over from the Lands Department. A Native leasehold area near Dargaville under mortgage to the Crown Lands Department was cleared of its liability and is now being prepared for future settlement.

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