14

C.—9

Auckland District. —West: John McCaw, retired farmer, Hamilton (Chairman); Joseph Batty, farmer, Patumahoe; William Gordon, Hamilton. East: H. M. Martin, farmer, Ngongotaha (Chairman) ; A. Sutherland, farmer, Whakatane; Joseph Price, Matamata. Gisborne District. —J. B. Kells, Score Road, Kaiti, Gisborne (Chairman) ; P. H. Summerfield, Wairoa ; J. H. Butler, Opotiki. Hawke's Bay District. —J. H. Joll, Havelock North (Chairman) ; L. G. Crosse, farmer, Weber, near Dannovirke; J. H. Kibblewhite, Hatuma. Taranaki District.— North: R. Craig, Aukopae, near Taumarunui (Chairman).; J. Soler, Taumaruuiii ;R. F. Beautrais, Manunui. South: E. Walter, farmer, Douglas (Chairman); George Preece, Matapu ; A. T. Wills, Denbigh Road, Hawera. Wellington District. —North : David Craig, farmer, Wangaiitti (Chairman); D. D. MoLean; Oreore, Raetihi; F. H. Allen, Wanganui. South: James Wall, Porirua (Chairman); F. S. Moßae,. Whaka ronga; J. Munro Wilson, Palmerston North. Central: L. T. McLean, farmer, Cheltenham (Chairman); E. Purnell, farmer, Marton Junction ;W. S. Penny, Sanson. East: T. Moss, farmer, Pahiatua (Chairman) ; Thomas Owen Haycock, farmer, " Moroa," Greytown ; William lemis, farmer, Martinborough. Marlborough District. —Frank Leslie Murray, farmer, Hillersden (Chairman) ; Charles John Noes, farmer, Okaramio ; Frederick C. C. Fell, Pinohia, Pelorus Sound. Nelson District. —North : Arthur Rutland Edwards, farmer, Motueka (Chairman) ; Albert Gilbert, orchardist, Stoke ; Herbert Cochar Henderson, Kairuru, Motueka. South : Frederick Craven Batchelor, farmer, Motueka (Chairman) ; Newton McConochie, farmer,■ Glenhope ; George Manson, sheep-farmer Stoke. Westland District. —George, Albert Perry, merchant, Hokitika (Chairman); Pryct; Hamer, farmer, Totara Flat; John Monk, farmer, Lower Kokatahi. Canterbury District. —North : Robert Latter, Barry's Bay, Akaroa (Chairman) ; J. G. Armstrong, Waitikiri, Marshlands, Christchurch ; Frederick Hubbard, farmer, Greenpark (postal address), Taitapu (telegraph address). Central : James Cow, Tinwald, Ashburton (Chairman) ; William Oakley, Ashburton; James Bruce, Seafield, Ashburton. South: T. L. Hart, Nile Street, Timaru (Chairman); Andrew Guild, Temuka ; Charles E. Kerr, North Street, Timaru. Otago District. —North : Hugh O'Neill, farmer, Palmerston (Chairman) ; Archibald Mclnnes, retired farmer, Otiake; William Aubrey, Georgetown. Central: John Shepherd, retired farmer. St. Clair, Dunedin (Chairman); Robert K. Smith, Tarras; James Ritchie, farmer, Bannockburn. South : Thomas Scott, farmer, Milton (Chairman) ; G. S. Wilson, farmer, Romahapa, Gleinomaru ; J. C. Anderson, farmer, Stirling. Southland District. —East: Charles Bennett, retired farmer, Gore (Chairman); Thomas Golden, farmer, Fortrose; Walter Clark, Woodlands. West: James Lilico, farm-manager, Lochiel (Chairman) ; Thomas Anson Buckingham, farmer, Drummond; Alexander McKenzie, fanner, Otahuti. As soon as the application forms were available a copy was sent to every soldier farmer on the; books of the Department, with a covering circular setting out the provisions of the Act, and intimating that if the settler desired to apply for revaluation, application em the; prescribed form had lo be made prior to the 28th February, 1924, be;ing the date fixed by the Act up to which applications could be received. The applications, when receivetl, together with the financial position of each settler, were supplied to the various District Committees, and the committees were directed to inspect and value the properties and submit their reports and recommendations to the Dominion Board. The Dominion Board held six preliminary meetings for the purpose; etf making recommendations for the appointment of District Committees, and to set the machinery in motion. When this had been done, members of the Board inspected soldier settlements in various parts of the Dominion, in order to have first-hand knowledge of the; oemditions prevailing in certain land districts anel settlements, and thus enable the Board to deal with the District Committees' reports in a businesslike manner. The Board did not, of course, make a valuation of any of the properties visited, but the information gathered during such tour of inspection has been invaluable. Reports from the various District Committees commenced to come to hand about the end of January, and the; Board elealt with such reports as they were received. The total number of applications received for revaluation is 5,347, and at the 31st March last the Dominion Board had finally elealt with 824 cases, having field thirty-eight meetings in adeiition to the six preliminary meetings before referred to. The reductions made in respect of the 824 cases mentioned are as follows : — £ Reduction in capital value of leasehold properties .. .. .. 139,676 Reduction of mortgages under section 2 of the Discharged Soldiers Settlement Act, 1917 .. .. .. .. .. ■ .. 106,416 The foregoing reductions are in respect of capital, and carry a corresponding reduction of rents or interest in the future. The approximate amount of rent-instalment and Current Account interest postponed and remitted by the Dominion Board up to the 31st March last is as follows : — Postponements — £ Rent.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 30,805 Instalments '.. .. .. .. .. .. .. 64,326 Current Account interest .. .. ... .. .. 1,386 Total .. .. .. .. .. .. £96,517 Remissions — Rent and instalments .. .. .. .. .. .. £815