B.—lB

2

The number and amounts of current advances on rural and urban and suburban land are as follows:— Number. Amount. _ __ On rural land .. .. .. .. .. 12,564 5,232,550 9 5 On urban and suburban land .. .. .. 7,326 2,709,847 2 7 Totals .. .. 19,890 £7,942,397 12 0 The amounts of the advances actually paid over to settlers during the year ended 31st March, 191 6, are as follows :— Number. Am ° unt - Not exceeding £500 .. .. .. .. ..1.345 460,150 Exceeding £500 but not exceeding £1,000 .. .. 182 129,400 Exceeding £1.000 but not exceeding £2,000 .. .. 40 56,665 Total* .. .. .. .. .. 1,567 £646,215 The number and amounts actually paid over, classified according to tenure of the securities, are as follows:- - Number. Amo £ UDt - On freeholds .. .. .. .. .. .. 918 357,945 On leaseholds .. .. .. .. .. 642 283,445 On freeholds and leaseholds combined .. .. .. 7 4,825 Totals .. .. .. .. ..1,567 £646,215 The gross" profits for the year ended 31st March, 1916, were £72,766, and the cost of management and expenses of the branch £9,727 being 0-104 per cent., or 2s. Id. per £100 of the capital employed. The net profits amounted to £62,453, of which the sum of £30,000 has been applied in writing down loan charges. The sinking fund established under section 26 of the State Advances Act, 1913, amounts to £571,630, inclusive of the amount held by the Public Trustee (£302,904). One leasehold and four freehold securities were realized by the Department during the year. Losses debited, and unpaid instalments in respect of mortgaged properties written off, amount to £584. G. F. C. Campbell, Superintendent. State Advances Offices, Wellington, 17th May, 1916.

ADVANCES TO WORKERS BRANCH. Ninth Annual Report and Balance-sheet. The following is a statement showing the advances to workers authorized by the Board during the year, and classified according to provincial districts: — Provincial Number of Amount of Advances District. Applications. authorized. Auckland .. .. .. .. ..333 106,015 Taranaki .. .. .. .. .. 21 5,745 Hawke's Bay .. .. .. .. .. 72 22,655 Wellington .. .. .. .. ..220 69,165 Marlborough .. .. .. .. ..25 7,685 Nelson .. .. .. .. ..10 3,160 Westland .. .. .. .. ..2 550 Canterbury .. .. .. .. ..182 57,615 Otago .. .. .. .. .... 64 19,095 Southland .. .. .. .. ..24 5,945 Totals .. .. .. ..953 £297,630