1.—15

Table showing, by Counties, Amounts of Rates on Crown Land paid by Lands and Survey Department for Year ended 31st March, 1944—continued

(d) Native Department Certain lands are administered by the Board of Native Affairs as Maori developmental schemes During the development stage (and m certain cases where lands are sufficiently developed for settlement but through, various causes individual settlement cannot be effected) current rates are paid when there is sufficient profit from the previous year's operations, notwithstanding that there may still be a balance of accumulated losses shown in the account. Ex gratia payments in respect of Crown areas included m a scheme are made on the same basis. Payment of arrears of rates requires the special approval of the Board of Native Affairs Interest on outstanding debt is charged in the accounts before the ascertainment of the profit or loss position. In these cases, therefore, it can be seen that, to all mtents and purposes the policy of the Board of Native Affairs in respect of Native development schemes is identical with that of the Lands and Survey Department in relation to general landdevelopment schemes and the same criticisms apply. When individual Maoris are settled on sections they are required to assign the full cream cheque to the Native Department, which then decides upon the allocation of the cheque between the Department and the occupier, having due regard to the livingexpenses of the latter. Ihe proportion paid to the Department is credited to the Loan Account of the occupier and as a general rule current rates arc paid as a charge against the Loan Account if there is a surplus there for the year after provision has been made for interest, maintenance, and sinking fund In some instances in the North Auckland district arrangements have been made whereby deductions of a small fixed amount per pound of butterfat produced are taken from the occupiers proportion of the cream cheque and paid directly to the County Council by the dairy company on account of the rates due. The amount so paid does not in general cover the full liability for rates he (V ° f rates h / Maori occupiers is the exception rather than the rule the J act that the Native occupiers have agreed to this deduction is a definite step in the ri*ht direction

120

Total Rates, Pntm+v Year ended Special n y " 31st March, Rates. Grants. Remarks. 1944. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. Whakatane .. 829 8 5 219 16 0 609 12 5 Te Kawa Block now disposed of to two ex-servicemen. Matamata .. 358 1 9 83 8 2 274 13 7 Crown land (Takoroa Block) Rotorua .. 96 17 6 Nil Nil Crown land. Annual rates have been estimated, as no rate-demand has ever been received. No grant has been recommended as Lands and Survey Department maintains the roads. 1 auranga . . 204 2 4 3 8 8 Nil Bay of Islands .. Nil Nil Nil Kapiro Block is an experimental area of 60 acres of Crown land. No demand received. Whangarei .. 47 4 2 7 1 7 40 2 7 Piako .. .. 93 2 1 .. 4 4 9 w U f\ " Jo iK 7 " Special rates only shown on rate-demand. Waikohu .. 433 15 7 146 14 11 287 0 8 Wairoa . . 578 1 11 Hawke's Bay .. 735 19 5 .. 83 3 11 Ahuriri Lagoon Block not valued for rating purposes and is Harbour Board endowment land. Ohura.. .. 70 6 1 .. 70 6 1 Buller.. .. 142 14 0 10 8 4 39 11 8 Awatere .. 113 10 2 .. .. Part of Molesworth Block. Marlborough .. 27 0 8 11 1 8 6 11 9 Includes part of Molesworth Block Amuri .. 60 7 6 .. .. Part of Molesworth Block. vaikoura .. \; " Paid by vendor prior to acquisition. Ashburton .. 245 11 10 73 17 10 Mackenzie .. 9 10 5 9 10 5 Geraldine .. 50 0 5 Paparua .. 57 12 7 14 3 6 Waipara .. 127 18 9 26 0 0 101 18 9 Waimate .. 140 18 3 39 9 1 101 9 2 Clutha .. 137 8 4 .. 137 8 4 Peninsula .. 122 17 3 .. 122 17 3 Southland .. 139 0 6 5 4 8 38 6 9