GENERAL REPORT In presenting" its report for the financial year ended 31st March, 1946, the Board of Native Affairs furnishes a review of the varied activities connected with the development and settlement of Native lands, and outlines the measures taken therewith to improve the living conditions of the Maori race. This statement, which is in continuation of those previously presented annually to both Houses of the General Assembly during the past fifteen years, provides a summary of the progress achieved in maintaining and extending the agricultural and pastoral schemes which were initiated in 1930 with the object of establishing and settling more Maori people upon their own lands ; the Native Housing Scheme, inaugurated in 1938, for the provision of better housing accommodation for Maoris; the re-establishment of Maori returned soldiers undertaken since 1944; and, refers to other operations financed by State or Trust funds and initiated for the benefit and advancement of the Maori race. It has, in this year's report, been possible to give, a more comprehensive review of the work that has been accomplished and is in progress than has been possible under wartime conditions. Previous reports, presented to Parliament from 1931 onwards, dealt with the changing attitude of the Legislature, which at the beginning of the present century became aware of the necessity for preserving the remnants

CONTENTS PAGE Report by Native Minister .. .. . . .. .. 1 Part I.—State Development Schemes .. .. .. .. 8 Part II. —Maori Land Board Undertakings . . .. . . 28 Part 111. —Native Trust Activities .. .. .. .. .. 31 Part IV.—Native Housing Operations .. .. .. .. 36 Part V.—Maori Rehabilitation Finance Committee . . .. . . 41 Part VI. —East Coast Native Trust Lands . . . . .. 48 Statistical Tables .. . . .. .. .. .. 52

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Leave

NATIVE DEPARTMENT THE DEVELOPMENT AND SETTLEMENT OF NATIVE LANDS AND THE PROVISION OF HOUSES FOR MAORIS (STATEMENT UPON THE PROGRESS OF, BY THE HON. H. G. R. MASON, NATIVE MINISTER AND CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF NATIVE AFFAIRS)

1946 NEW ZEALAND

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