8.—13

1915. NE W Z E ALAND.

STATE ADVANCES OFFICE (REPORT BY THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1915.

Laid before Parliament pursuant to Subsection (3) of Section 64 of the State Advances Act, 1913.

ADVANCES TO SETTLERS BRANCH. Twenty-first Annual Report and Balance-sheet. The advances actually paid over to settlers during the year by the Board numbered 2,073, and the loans so paid amounted to £997,040. Classified according to provincial districts, the advances authorized during the year ended 31st March, 1915, were,--Provincial Number of Amount of Advanoes District. Applications. autnonzea. Auckland .. .. .. .. .. 1,094 352,900 Taranaki .. .. .. .. 115 07.340 Hawke's Bay .. .. .. .. 100 33.095 Wellington' .. .. .. .. .. 322 135,265 Marlborough .. .. .. .. .. 30 11.200 Nelson . .. .. .. .. .. 58 21,520 Westland .. .. .. .. .. 17 6,425 Canterbury .. .. .. 177 71,115 Otago .. .. .. .. . . .. 60 19,620 Southland .. .. .. .. .. 97 30,560 Totals.. .. .. .. .. 2.100 £749.040 The total advances now current are as follows :— Number Amount, Not exceeding £500 .. .. .. .. 14,814 ' 3,174.829 2 1 Exceeding £500 but not exceeding £1,000 .. 3.203 2.319.177 4 4 Exceeding £1,000 hut not exceeding £2,000 .. 1.389 1.959.430 16 6 Exceeding £2,000 hut not exceeding £3,000 .. 216 536.694 0 7 Totals .. .. .. ..19,622 £7.990.131 3 6 The average amount of the current advances is £407. Number and amounts advanced on freehold and leasehold— Climber. Amount. On freeholds .. .. .. .. .. 11.973 5,678.964 18 V On leaseholds .. .. .. .. .. 7.348 2.128.205 4 2 On freeholds and leaseholds combined .. .. 301 182,961 I 3 * Totals .. .. .. ..19.622 £7.990.131 3 6 The average freehold advance is £474, the average leasehold advance £289, and the average of advances secured on both freehold and leasehold combined £608.

I—B. 13.