NATIVE DEPARTMENT ANNUAL REPORT OF THE UNDER-SECRETARY FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1945

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1945 Session I, G-09

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1945 NEW ZEALAND

NATIVE DEPARTMENT ANNUAL REPORT OF THE UNDER-SECRETARY FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1945

Laid on the Table of the House of Representatives by Leave The Untjer-Secretary, Native Department, to the Hon. the Minister of Native Affairs Native Department, Wellington, 21st August, 1945. Sir,— I have the honour to present herewith the annual report upon the activities of this Department, excluding Native-land development, rehabilitation, and Maori housing, which are dealt with in a separate report submitted by the Board of Native Affairs. The report covers the financial year ended 31st March, 1945. I have, &c, G. P. Shepherd, IJnder-Secretary and Native Trustee. The Hon. H. G. R. Mason, Minister of Native Affairs.

GENERAL The activities of tlio Department have continued to expand during the year under review. The special Welfare Branch has now been established, and a summary of its operations is included in this report. A qualified horticulturist has been attached to the Department with a view to encouraging and assisting Maoris in market-gardening, fruit-production, and cropping, leading to intensive utilization of small holdings by that means. A more detailed report of horticultural activities appears in parliamentary paper G.-]O. An important innovation made during the year was the establishment within the Department of a complete housing construction organization responsible for the administration of the housing activities, architectural work and village planning, construction and repair of houses, and the training of Maori youths in the various building trades. The erection of houses under the Native Housing Act has hitherto been carried out by the Public Works Department, by private tender, and by Maori workmen under the supervision of the Native Department. The new organization has been set up to accelerate the building of houses and to provide for trade training of Maoris and rehabilitation of ex-soldiers in the building trades. It is recognized that the provision of better and more comfortable housing accommodation for Maoris is one of the most pressing of their needs to-day. The Department has all the financial and other facilities necessary to provide the housing requirements of the Maori people (subject, of course, at the present time to the physical limitations imposed by the shortages of material and labour). Every opportunity is being taken, to arouse the interest of the Maoris in the betterment of their living conditions and to make known the ability and willingness of the Department not to give them houses, but to provide the means whereby they can, if they will make the necessary application, obtain a house upon very generous terms. A detailed report of housing operations is contained in parliamentary paper G.-10. The return of numbers of Maori servicemen has also called for an expansion of rehabilitation activities. Staff At 31st March, 1945, the personnel of the Department, including 5 Judges of the Native Land Court, numbered 664 officers, comprising office staff (233 permanent and 216 temporary) and field staff (18 permanent and 97 temporary). These figures include 127 men in the Armed Forces either overseas or in New Zealand, and 15 officers seconded for duty with other Departments for the duration of the war. This Department has on its roll 90 wartime assistants (principally female clerks). Approximately 23 per cent, of the departmental personnel — i.e., 130 —are members of the Maori race. In addition, the Department employs considerable numbers of men (chiefly Maoris) on a weekly, daily, and hourly basis as stockmen, shepherds, truck-drivers, general farm hands, and development and building workmen. To the relatives of the six members of the staff who were reported killed on active service, the fellow-officers of the Department extend their deepest sympathy. There were five retirements on superannuation during the year. Mr. R. L. Jellicoe, Chief Clerk, retired on 25th December, 1944, after forty years' service. He held the positions of Accountant at Wellington, Wanganui, and Head Office, being appointed Chief Clerk, Head Office, in December, 1938.

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On 23rd April, 1945, Mr. Ivor Prichard, LL.B., was appointed to the Native Land Court Bench as Judge of the Tokerau District. Judge Prichard, who practised as a solicitor in Waitara for twentytwo years, took a prominent part in the growth of that town, occupying positions on the Borough Council, County Council, Chamber of Commerce, Harbour Board, and Returned Services' Association. He took an especial interest in Maori affairs in the district. Maori Population The estimated Maori population as at the 31st March, 1945, was 101,538, excluding members of the Armed Forces serving overseas. Including servicemen, the figure would be approximately 103,000. This shows an increase of approximately 25 per cent, since the last census in 1930, when the total was 82,326, and almost 100 per cent, over the last thirty years. There is thus a very definite indication that the race has survived the danger of extinction which appeared certain less than fifty years ago. MAORI WELFARE BRANCH The Chief Welfare Officer commenced his duties in September, 1944, and by the end of the year under review Welfare Officers were operating in Ruatoria and Gisborne and a iady Welfare Officer at Head Office. Further appointments are to be made in other districts. The work already accomplished has indicated clearly the value of the new Branch in enabling the Department to give more adequate attention to the social problems of the Maori people. The field of operations of the branch is a very wide one, but some of the more important aspects will be dealt with seriatim. Economic and Domestic Surveys In order to gain first-hand information of conditions in Maori communities, the Chief Welfare Officer has carried out detailed surveys of some of the settlements where an improved standard of housing and living conditions generally is an urgent necessity. The localities reported upon to date are as follows :— Motuiti Pa, Foxton, comprising .. .. .. 10 families and 96 individuals. Panmure, Market Gardens, comprising . . . . .. 53 „ 259 - Ihiiniatao Pa, Onehunga, comprising .. .. ..15 ~ 93 Waihi Borough, comprising .. .. .. .. 18 ~ 134. Pukekohe Market Gardens, comprising .. .. .. 132 „ 779 „ 228 ;, 1,361 Following upon these surveys, action is now being taken to endeavour to improve living conditions in the settlements. Maori Hostels Inspections have been made of various Maori hostels now operating in the North Island, and projects for the erection and establishment of new hostels have been reported upon. The hostels already established with departmental assistance in Auckland and Frankton Junction have fully justified the hopes of the various organizations responsible for their establishment and have considerably eased the accommodation problem in both centres.

Placement and General Social Welfare Valuable service is being performed by Welfare Officers in securing suitable employment for Maoris and in assisting the authorities with problem cases and indigent Maoris. The following table indicates the number of cases dealt with in Wellington during a period of four months : —

Close liaison has been maintained with the Justice Department, the Child Welfare authorities, and the National Service Department in connection with the cases cited above. The cases referred to under the heading of General Welfare covered a wide range of subjects, including assistance in applications for social security benefits and housing, the provision of temporary accommodation for visiting Maoris, avenues of approach to other Government Departments, and many other matters of that nature. The ladv Welfare Officer has been able to carry out much valuable work amongst Maori girls employed in Wellington. This type of work will be carried out in other centres when the district Welfare Officers are fully established. Maori Conferences The chief Welfare Officer attended conferences at Wellington, Ruatoria, and Rotorua for the purpose of reporting to the Department on problems which were raised at those meetings.

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Females. Males. Total. (1) Placed in employment .. .. .. .. .. .. 29 1 30 (2) Transfers arranged to more suitable employment .. . . .. 13 , . 13 (3) Termination of employment arranged owing to ill health, maternity cases, &c. . . .. .. .. .. .. 12 ,. 12 (4) Delinquents (Borstal cases, &c), placed in employment or returned to homes .. . . .. .. .. . , ,, 12 . . 12 (5) Indigent cases assisted .. .. ,. .. ., 2 1 3 (6) General welfare —interviews and advice .. . . . . .. 49 1 50 ■ m 3_ 120

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Voluntary Organizations The Welfare Branch is taking a keen interest in the voluntary social and recreational organizations now established in various centres, and the formation of new clubs is being encouraged. The activities of some of the larger organizations arc referred to in the district reports. LEGISLATION Apart from the annual Native Purposes Act, which in 1944 was confined chiefly to internal departmental matters, the Native legislation comprised two Acts which provided for the settlement of two long standing Native claims. The Ngaitahu Claim Settlement Act brought to a conclusion negotiations which have been in progress between the South Island Maoris and successive Governments over a very long period of years. By this Act the Ngaitahu people are to receive the sum of £300,000 in thirty annual payments of £10,000 in full settlement of their claims arising out of the purchase of Canterbury lands in 1848. The first of the annual payments has been lodged with the Native Trustee, to be held pending the reconstitution of the Ngaitahu Trust Board, which will administer the funds on behalf of the beneficiaries. By the Taranaki Maori Claims Settlement Act, 1944, provision is made for the annual payment, without further appropriation, of a sum of £5,000 to the Taranaki Maori Trust Board in settlement of claims arising out of confiscations imposed after the Taranaki wars. This Act goes a step further than previous legislation, under which it was necessary for the payment to the Taranaki Maori Trust Board to be appropriated by Parliament each year. The Act also provides for the settlement of claims for damages caused to Maori property at Parihaka during its occupation by military Forces in 1881, a sum of £300 being payable to the Taranaki Maori Trust Board in full settlement. NATIVE LAND COURT A statistical return of the activities of the court is appended in Table B. Apart from its judicial operations, the Court has continued to assist the Department in many other directions, such as the investigation of the human and material factors in relation to individual holdings and making recommendations as to suitable occupiers for land under development. In October, 1944, a Commission of three Judges conducted an inquiry into the rival claims to the Tunapahoro Block. This is the sixth occasion on which the title to this block has been investigated since 1885, and the present inquiry was ordered by section 10 of the Native Purposes Act, 1938, to determine the long-standing dispute between the claimants. The Court now has a full complement of Judges consequent upon the appointment of Mr. Ivor Prichard to the Tokerau District. NATIVE APPELLATE COURT Among the matters dealt with by the Appellate Court were two cases of outstanding importance which were in progress when this report was published last year. These cases concerned the determination of the ownership of Lake Waikaremoana and the bed of the Wanganui River. In 1918 the Native Land Court made a final order declaring certain Natives to be the owners of the bed of Lake Waikaremoana. Appeals against this decision were lodged by the Crown and by Natives whose claims had been disallowed in 1918. It was contended on behalf of the Crown that the lake-bed was Crown land freed from the Native customary title, and it was arranged between the Crown and the Natives that the Crown appeal should be disposed of first. For various reasons this appeal did not come before the Court until March, 1944, when the Full Court, comprising the six Judges of the Native Land Court sat in Wellington. After hearing preliminary argument as to its jurisdiction, the Court proceeded to hear the Crown appeal, and decision was reserved. On the 20th September, 1944, judgment was delivered, the unanimous decision of the Court being that the lake could be considered as Native customary land and that the Native Land Court had sufficient evidence on which to make freehold orders. The appeal of the Crown was thus disallowed. In the Wanganui River case the Crown appealed against a preliminary decision of the Native Land Court to the effect that at the time of the making of the Treaty of Waitangi the bed of the river from its tidal limit at Raorikia to its junction with the Whakapapa River was land held by the Natives under their customs and usages. The appeal was heard before the Full Court at Wellington in March and April, 1944, when the preliminary decision of the Native Land Court was upheld. NATIVE TRUSTEE The administration of Native reserves and the estates of deceased Maoris and persons under disability continue to be the chief functions of the Native Trustee. Some 2,016 estates of various types are now administered, and, in addition, 579 estates of deceased Maori servicemen had been dealt with up to the end of the year under review. The total amount held on behalf of estates and beneficiaries as at the 31st March last was £222,935. Advances from the Common Fund of the Native Trustee have been made on the security of Native land to enable the owners to improve their properties and carry on farming operations. Advances have also been made in respect of the several stations administered by the office under section 25 of the Native Trustee Act, 1930. A detailed report of the year's activities on the Native Trust stations is included in parliamentary paper G.-10. A number of orders under section 540 of the Native Land Act, 1931, have been made by the Native Land Court during the year. These orders empower the Native Trustee to act as agent for the purpose of leasing lands which are lying idle and becoming infested with noxious weeds, or where an owner cannot be traced. Considerable areas of hitherto idle land have been brought into production in this manner. Table A of this report contains a summary of the financial position of the Native Trustee as at the 31st March, 1945.

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FINANCE The volume of business transacted by the Department during the year is indicated by the following statement: —

Expenditure from Vote " Native " Salaries, general departmental administration, and pur- £ £ chase of equipment .. .. 144,329 Less recoveries from Maori Land Boards and miscellaneous .. .. .. .. 9 (753-f- - 134,576 Grants for Native purposes.. .. .. .. .. ~ 180 798 Protection of Native land . . .. . . . . .. ]0 212 Taranaki lands compensation .. .. .. .. 5,000 £330,586 t Does not include Native Trustee's contribution for 1944 -45, £12,200, inadvertently unpaid. DISTRICT REPORTS Tokerau and Waikato-Maniapoto Districts (Auckland) Native Land Court Tokerau District —Although fewer cases were notified than in the previous year, a rise in the volume of business is indicated by the total number of orders made, which amounted to 2 026 this year, as compared with 1,492 in 1943-44. The sum of £630 was received in Court and Board fees, as against £470 in the previous year. The appointment of Mr. Ivor Prichard as Judge of the district towards the end of the year has considerably eased the. pressure of work. For some time prior to Judge Prichard's appointment the Court sittings in both the Tokerau and Waiknto-Mu mapoto districts were taken by Judge Beechey assisted, from time to time, by the Judges of other districts. Waikato-Maniapoto District.—The volume of business shows very little change from the previous year, a total of 605 orders having been made, as compared with 617 in 1943-44. Court and Board fees amounted to £695, as against £638 last year. There was a substantial increase in the area ol lands comprised 111 alienations confirmed by the Court, but sales decreased and a number of the alienations were in favour of Maoris. Maori Land Boards Apart from the administration of vested lands, a large part of the work of the Boards was concerned with negotiations for timber-cutting rights on Maori lands. As a result of the coal shortage, prospectors have carried out investigations in both districts, and opencast mining is now in operation in the Waikato-Maniapoto district both 011 privately owned Maori land and on land vested in the Maori Land Board. Consolidation The consolidation staff is now concentrating 011 particular areas with a view to finalizing these titles before fiesh schemes are undertaken. Ihe completion of the schemes now under action will be of particular benefit to the Maori whose lands have been brought under development. General Welfare A Welfare Officer is shortly to be appointed in the Auckland district, and it is anticipated that he will play an important part in the closer relationship between the Department and the Maori people.

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Total Total Payments. Receipts. Consolidated Fund— £ £ Civil List (Native Purposes) .. .. .. .. 5 ) 425 Special Acts (Arawa and Ngaitahu) .. .. .. 16,000 Vote "Native" .. .. .. .. .. 9*753 Court fees .. .. .. ,. .. ., _, 5 jqj Land for Settlements— Vote " Native Land Settlement" .. .. .. 839,546 846 416* Receipts under Native Housing Act, 1935 .. .. .. 24 121 Native Trust and Maori Land Boards .. .. .. 666,553 667^509 1,867,863 1,553,100 * Receipts from Native-land-development schemes, £6(57,(il5; grant from Consolidated Fund, £177 000 • and sundries, £1,801.

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The accommodation problem for Maori girls employed in Auckland has been considerably relieved by the new Maori hostels now established in Auckland. New hostels were opened during the year at Hepburn Street, Ponsonby, and Pentland Avenue, Mount Eden, the former hostel being operated by the United Maori Mission and the latter by the Presbyterian Church. Large numbers of visiting Maoris have made use of the temporary accommodation provided at Frankton Junction by the hostel erected by the Waikato Maori Hostel Society with financial assistance from the Department. Prior to the erection of this building it was almost impossible for Maoris to obtain satisfactory accommodation when visiting Hamilton. Waiariki District Native Land Court The Court's time was fully taken up with the nineteen gazetted sittings and the wide range of other matters requiring the Court's attention. There has been a noticeable increase in the number of applications by the Board of Native Affairs for recommendations as to the occupancy of developmentscheme lands and also in the number of applications for partition and vesting orders for housing purposes. Consolidation Progress in the consolidation of Native land titles has been considerably hampered by the shortage of trained staff, but it is hoped that the return of experienced consolidation officers from service with the Armed Forces will enable this important work to proceed more rapidly. Native Housing With the establishment of the new housing organization, it is anticipated that there will be a considerable increase in housing operations. Domestic and economic surveys have been made in various parts of the district with the object of providing continuity of work for the building gangs which are now operating or will be operating in the near future. A minimum of sixty houses per annum is aimed at when the organization is in full operation and when materials become available. Building is at present in progress in Rotorua, Taupo, Taneatua, and To Puke, and since the reorganization two houses have been completed and five are in course of erection. The six teams now operating include eleven Maori ex-servicemen training under the rehabilitation scheme under the supervision of competent tradesmen. Maori Land Board The Board has continued to foster increased production from Maori lands in the district. During theyear proceeds of maize, kumara, and potatoes received on behalf of growers amounted to £15,984, an increase of £6,733 over the preceding year. Twelve and a half acres of onions were harvested, also, but returns are not yet to hand of the prices obtained for the crop. A number of advances were made by the Board during the year to assist Maoris with farming and building projects. General Welfare The departmental Welfare Officer appointed for the Waiariki District has not yet taken up his duties, but it is anticipated that he will do so in the near future. It is pleasing to record the achievements of a voluntary organization established in Eotorua by the late Mr. Tai Mitchell shortly before his death. This band of young Maoris, under the name of the " Taiporutu Social and Welfare Club," is highly organized and has undertaken a number of important welfare activities in the district. The primary objects arc the instruction of the younger Maoris in their own language, customs, and arts, regular visits to hospitals and the provisions of comforts to patients, assistance to other welfare organizations in the district, and general welfare activities. In the course of the hospital visits during the past year it was ascertained that the authorities were experiencing difficulty in obtaining clothing for infant patients. The club organized working bees, and by a most commendable effort succeeded in making sufficient underclothes, jackets, &c, for every child in the hospital, pakeha or Maori, under the age of four years. Voluntary societies of this nature can play an important part in Maori welfare work, and it is hoped that the example set in Rotorua will be emulated in other parts of the district. Tairawhiti District (Gisborne) Native Land Court Twenty-two sittings of the Court were held during the year in centres ranging from Mohaka in the south to Te Araroa in the north. The number of cases notified were 3,587, as compared with 3,130 in the previous year. A pleasing aspect of the year's operations was the withdrawal of a number of applications for rate-charging orders owing to the making of satisfactory arrangements between the Maori ratepayers and the local bodies. The problem of rates on Native lands is gradually being overcome in this district, and all possible assistance; is being given to local bodies to bring about further improvements. In both the Uawa and Waiapu Counties a record collection of Maori, rates was achieved last year. The Uawa County Council collected 90-2 per cent, of the rates struck and the Waiapu County Council 89-98 per cent, the latter representing a sum of £10,732. In the Wairoa County the position has not been quite so satisfactory. During the year 93 applications 'were made by the County Council for the appointment of a receiver to enforce rate-charging orders, together with 683 applications for fresh charging orders. This had the result of bringing home to a large number of ratepayers their obligation to pay rates. Committees were formed in many settlements to go into the question and to effect compromises for

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many years, and a considerable sum was collected by the Council by way of such compromises. Of the 93 applications for the appointment of a receiver, orders were made in 21 cases only, 47 applications being withdrawn, and 25 adjourned to enable the parties to make satisfactory arrangements for payment of their rates. Of the 683 applications for charging orders, 383 were withdrawn, the rates having been settled in full or by compromise. Consolidation Progress with the Northern Waiapu Consolidation Scheme has been delayed pending the result of the special Commission set up to determine matters affecting the ownership of two of the largest blocks in the scheme —Marangairoa Id (Kautuku) and Wharekahika Blocks. It is expected that the decisions will be delivered in the near future and work on the remaining instalments of the scheme will proceed. Maori Land Board There was a considerable increase in both receipts and payments during the year as compared with the previous year. A further sum of £10,000 was invested in the Victory Loan, and the total amount now invested in Government securities, both from Board funds and on behalf of beneficiaries, is £86,710. Donations amounting to £317 were made towards various Maori activities, including £100 for the carved meeting-house at Tβ Kaha and £50 to the Ngati-Poneke Maori Association in Wellington. The Board is also sponsoring a fund for a reception to members of the Maori Battalion on the return from active service. Ngarimu Scholarship Fund Up to 31st March, 1945, the Maori Land Board, acting as trustee pro tempore of this fund, had received the sum of £5,469, of which £5,352 was invested in war loans. The purpose of the fund is to provide scholarships to assist Maori students in secondary and University education, the scholarships being in a form of a memorial to members of the Maori Battalion who have lost their lives during the war. Tribes throughout New Zealand are co-operating in raising the necessary funds. Maori Welfare In addition to the Welfare Officer in Gisborne, a Welfare Officer has been appointed to the northern part of the district, where he will work in conjunction with the Health Department and the officer recently appointed to this area by the Social Security Department. Every effort is being made to ensure that moneys derived from social security benefits are properly expended, and it is hoped that the diversion of a proportion of such funds to the provision of better housing conditions will do much to improve the health and standard of living in Maori communities. Much good work is being done by voluntary Maori organizations at Wairoa and Gisborne and by the Maori cultural centre which was formed by the Hon. Sir Apirana Ngata at Ruatoria. Aotea District (Wanganui) Native Land Court Sixteen sittings were held during the year at Wanganui, Hawera, New Plymouth, Taumarunui, and Tokaanu. The volume of business continues to increase, orders being made in 1,341 cases, comprising 77 partitions, 902 successions, and 362 miscellaneous orders. A matter of particular importance which engaged the attention of the Court during the year was a scheme of exchanges affecting large areas of West Taupo lands, whereby open areas of Crown land are being exchanged for bush-clad areas of Maori land. This will have the dual effect of making open lands available for Maori settlement and conserving bush lands for timber-and soil-protection purposes. In the proceedings for the partition of Waituhi-Kuratau 4b 2 Block between the Crown and the non-sellers a new method of valuation of timber areas was introduced by the production of appraisal values and location plans. This method, which is now to be generally adopted, will ensure that partitions of blocks partly covered with bush will be made on an equitable basis. A new development in connection with timber lands in this district was the incorporation of the owners of Puketapu 3a Block, the largest forest block in the Tongariro area. The object of the incorporation is to enable the Maori owners to form their own organization for exploiting the resources of the block on their own account, a commendable example of self-effort which will be watched with interest. Applications for confirmation have also shown a tendency to increase, but the Court has maintained its policy of strict scrutiny of the terms of the respective contracts to ensure that the interests of the alienors are fully protected. In this respect, particular attention has been devoted to ensuring that, where land is leased, adequate provision shall be made for maintenance and fencing, thus ensuring that should the owners elect at the expiration of the lease to utilize the land themselves, they will not be confronted with, heavy salvage expenditure, as has unfortunately been their experience in many instances in the past. Sales have, in general, been discouraged, and, where approved, adequate provision has been made to ensure that the proceeds are utilized for worth-while and tangible projects. Maori Land Board The administration of lands vested in the Board continues as an important phase of its operations. A marked improvement in the compliance with the terms of leases of such lands has resulted from periodical inspections and from proceedings instituted by the Board where breaches of covenant have occurred. Proceeds of the sale of timber in collaboration with the State Forest Service have maintained

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the Board's receipts at the high level of recent years. Considerable attention is paid to the best possible utilization of moneys held on behalf of Maori beneficiaries under the protective provisions of section 281 of the Native Land Act, 1931. Funds not otherwise required by beneficiaries have assisted the Dominion's war effort a further sum of £18 000 having been invested in the current year, bringing the total investments in the war loans, including specific investments on behalf of beneficiaries, to over £67,000. General Maori Welfare While in the course of general administration all officers have endeavoured to assist and foster pro]ects aimed at Maori welfare and betterment, efforts have been restricted in the past by the lack of appropriate personnel charged with this immediate responsibility ; the. recently created Welfare Division a * h ?,? e P» rtme ? t l "Jl now remcd 7 this - The scope of activities and the field available gives promise that this phase of the Department's activities may well make a. milestone in the progress of the development of the Maori race towards social and economic self-sufficiency. With good will and co-operation on the part of the Maori himself, this objective can be obtained. ' Ikaroa (Wellington) and South Island Districts Native Land Court There were twenty-two sittings of the Court in the Ikaroa District during the year and ten in the bouth Island Ihe volume of business showed an increase over the previous years' figures. The number of oases notified in the Ikaroa District was 2,939, as compared with 2,721 in the previous year, and in the bouth Island there were f>77 cases, as against 595 in the previous year. k T A i ma wf. °{ in * erest r in tllC S °f th Island was an in< ! uil 7 into the mutton-bird industry conducted by Judge Whitehead at Invercargill. A considerable amount of evidence was taken from the interested Maoris and the shipping owners, and the submission of this evidence to the Price Tribuanl was of assistance in the recently gazetted fixation of prices. The number of alienations confirmed by the Court showed a substantial increase in both districts but there has been comparatively little freeholding of the total area of approximately 12,000 acres attected by alienations, only 168 acres were included in the twenty-one sales confirmed. Maori Land Boards ff! n nnn nanC6S °J B ° ar , dS con *T e , to f low a BOund P osition - During the year a further investment ot £10,000 was made in war-loan stock by the two Boards and smaller investments were made on behalf ot specific beneficiaries. General Maori Welfare The Ikaroa and South [sland Boards take a close interest in the general welfare of the Maori people ot the districts. Annual donations have been made to the Ngati-Poneke Maori Association which continues to carry out important welfare work in Wellington, and during the current year an additional contribution of £100 was made for general expenses and maintenance of the hall which was made available to the association by the Government. Similar voluntary organizations have recently been established m 1 almerston North and Levin, and it is hoped that these ventures will prove successful These three clubs together with the Ngati-Otautahi of Christchurch and Ngai-te-Poti of Dunedin have made valuable contributions to patriotic funds during the year ' madc

TABLE A.—SUMMARY OF FINANCIAL POSITION OF NATIVE TRUSTEE AND DISTRICT MAORI LAND BOARDS AS AT 31st MARCH, 1945

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Sub-total „ ™™'- W '»- iki ' Itt. Aotea. toroa. *g* <"}» §S? Grand ,sla " (l - Trust .(««'«• Total. Branches.) Offl ce.) sra. :: jms Rjs k "sws sk as a as k ss Investments — On Nati e vrCte: ith 2 ' 24iJ 41 ' 464 50,808 21 ' 716 (il ' 892 M ' 344 ».'« 242,237 .. 242,237 Government securities 23,868 21,350 40,005 86,710 70,175 20 370 8 494 271 02B 181 aw amo e«n Mortgages .. 9,459 21,563 30,098 55,060 71 585 28 483 5 241 221 489 wJ'SS RQk'^q Farming propertiee .. 11,571 47,117 6,760 4,900 . ?. 70 348 ImIw SS'S? and primary pro- iu,O4O iJ4,ciiy 204,007 duction Li benfiJiari!"s 47 ' 7, " 86 ' 818 103,601 UlM lM ' 87 - 1 101 -™ 23,075 626,526 222,935 849,461 Reserves — R( " •• 7 ' 698 •• 5,2 ° 8 60 ' 089 *> m W 123,692 193,605 SpeCial •• 285 | 23 ' 527 0!) ' (i03 (il '214 24,118 3,047 1,338 .174,132 19,14! 19 3;2 73

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TABLE B.—RETURN OF NATIVE LAND COURT BUSINESS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1945

TABLE C.—RETURN OF ALIENATIONS CONFIRMED FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1945

Approximate Cost of Paper. —Preparation, not given ; printing (660 copies), £15.

By Authority: E. V. Paul, Government Printer, Wellington.—l94s.

Price 6d.]

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° taS " Tokeran Waikato " Waia " Taira " Aotea Tkaroa South 1943-441944-45 Mamapoto nki. whiti. Island. Native Land Court Number of sittings .. .. 110 115 13 13 19 22 16 22 10 Number of cases notified .. 14,14318,919 1,681 1,620 1,384 3,587 2,031 2,939 677 Number of oases for which orders 5,268 4,845 384 60S 479 1,568 624 827 358 made Number of cases dismissed .. 880 1,095 8-1 109 111 463 204 98 26 Number of cases adjourned 8,041 7,960 1,213 906 794 1,537 1,203 2,014 293 sine die Number of partitions made .. 431 576 242 29 97 121 77 6 4 Area affected (acres) .. .. 21,779 61,841 10,889 6,847 27,472 6,035 9,394 144 1,060 Number of investigations of 16 I 1 title (including confirmations) Area affected (acres) . . . . 2 20 20 Number of succession orders 5,154 5,267 1,032 451 730 1,342 902 531 279 made Number of other orders made .. 4,231 3,505 751 125 210 1,692 362 290 75 Native Appellate Court Number of sittings .. .. 9 3 .. .. .. *1 *] 1 .. Number of cases notified . . 27 3 .. . . . . 1 1 1 Native Land Court decisions 2 . . varied Native Land Court decisions 5 2 .. . . . . 1 1 .. affirmed Native Land Court decisions 6 1 .. . . . . .. .. 1 referred back to Native Land Court Native Land Court decisions 1 .. annulled Appeals dismissed or with- 6 drawn Appeals adjourned sine die .. 2 . . Applications under section 3 . . 257/31 ordered Application's under section 2 257/31 dismissed Orders made under section 363 2 . . £ £ £ ££££££ Court and Board fees collected 4,892 5,301 630 695 820 1,078 1,226 585 267 * Sitting held at Wellington.

Leases. Sales. (including renewals, but (including sales to other Mortgages. ~ . . . not transfers of leases). Maoris). Court District. No. Area. No. Area. No. Area. Acres. Acres. Acres. Tokerau .. .. .. .. 2 123 6 89 Waikato-Maniapoto .. .. .. 35 3.,565 16 611 Waiariki 16 555 4 13 Tairawhiti .. .. .. ..60 7,969 15 274 2 237 Aotea .. .. .. .. .. 75 3,358 26 587 Ikaroa 67 9,270 12 78 South Island *18 2,481 9 90 Totals .. .. ..273 27,321 88 1,742 2 237 * Includes two sales of timber affecting 658 acres.