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Provincial Advances to Workers. Number of Amount of Advances District. Applications. authonzed. Auckland .. .. .. .. .. ..78 46,445 Taranaki .. .. .. .. .. ..7 2,785 Hawke's Bay ... .. .. . . . . 2 I . 285 Wellington .. .. .. .. .. ..15 8,735 Marlborough . . . . . . . . . . . . 1. 500 Canterbury .. .. .. .. .. ..22 11.480 Otago .. .. .. .. .. ..3 1,185 Southland .. .. .. .. .. .. 3 1,500 Totals .. .. .. .. ..131 £73,915 The amount actually paid over to 309 settlers during the year was £222,470, to 121 workers £69,440, and to 295 local bodies £493,285 -a total of £785,195. 694 settlers are now indebted to the extent of £462,011 3s. lid.; 118 workers, £67,950 4s. 7d. and local bodies (in respect of 1,360 loans), £1,875,696 3s. Id. a total of £2,105,660 lis. 7d. in respect of principal moneys. The interest earned for the year amounted to £103,142. The cost of management and expenses was nil. Wm. Waddel, Superintendent. State Advances Office, Wellington, sth June, 1923.

ADVANCES OFFICE SINKING FUND. The following is a statement showing the advances under this branch authorized during the year ended 31st March, 1923, classified according to provincial districts : — Provincial Advances to Settlers. Number of Amount of Advances District. Applications. authorized. Auckland .. .. .. .. .. ..62 37,850 Taranaki .. .. .. .. .. .. 6 4,665 Hawke's liny .. .. .. .. ..14 8,650 Wellington .. .. .. .. .. ..58 29,335 Marlborough.. .. .. .. .. .. 2 1,850 Nelson . . .. . . .. . . . . 1 500 Canterbury .. .. .. .. .. ..15 10.040 Otago .. . . .. .. . . .. 2 650 Southland .. .. .. .. .. .. 8 16,490 Totals .. .. .. .. ..168 £110,030 Provincial Advances to Workers. Number of Amount of Advances District. Applications. authorized. Auckland . . .. .. .. .. ..14 6.170 Hawke's Bay .. . . .. .. .. 2 I . 425 Wellington " .. .. .. .. .. ..10 3J510 Canterbury .. .. .. .. .. .. 4 2,165 Otago .. ... .. .. .. .. I 700 Southland .. .. .. .. . . .. I 100 Totals .. .. .. .. ..32 £14,070 Provincial Advances to Local Bodies. Number of Amount of Advances District. Applications. authorized. MS £ Auckland .. .. .. .. .. I 285 Taranaki .. .. .. .. .. .. 3 1,590 Hawke's Bay .... .. .. .. 1 5,000 Wellington .. .. .. .. . . . . 2 2,200 Totals .. .. .. .. . 7 £9,075 The amount actually paid over to 190 settlers during the year was £143,120, to 58 workers £31,465, and to 21 local bodies £26,725—a total of £201,310. 1,280 settlers are now indebted to the extent of £805.089 19s. 2d. ; 139 workers, £74,856 Is. Id. ; and local bodies (in respect of 235 loans), £325,413 9s. 5(1. - a total of £1,205,359 9s. Bd. in respect of principal moneys. The interest earned for the year amounted to £72,865. The cost of management and expenses was nil. Wm. Waddel. Superintendent, State Advances Office, Wellington, sth June, 1923.

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