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APPENDIX REPORTS OF COMMISSIONERS OF CROWN LANDS. NORTH AUCKLAND. (H. J. Lowe, Commissioner of Crown Lands.) The relief afforded by the revaluation of soldiers' farms under the Discharged Soldiers Settlement Amendment Act, 1923, has been followed up by revaluation of Current Accounts for advances for stock, implements, and improvements. The work has not yet been completed, it necessarily being a slow process, involving as it does individual valuations. It is hoped that on completion of this investigation values will have been reduced in keeping with the producing-capacities of the farms, and the average soldier farmer afforded such relief as will enable him to meet his future obligations and assure him an adequate competence. Very few applications have been made by discharged soldiers for land, thus showing that the work of repatriation is practically complete. Land previously proclaimed and set aside for discharged soldiers is now being made available for general selection. In comparison with the average civilian farmer, the soldier is more than holding his own and proving a good husbandman. Sufficient time has not yet elapsed to determine the measure of success attendant on the relief afforded by the revaluation. Apjolications under the Discharged Soldiers Settlement Act. —Except in the case of permanently disabled soldiers, no advances have been made for the erection of dwellings. The total number of applications received was 958, of which 716 were recommended for approval, as follows : Purchase of farms, 18 ; transfer of farms, 32 ; postponements, 287 ; erection of houses, including additional advances, 37 ; transfer of houses, 159 ; advances on Current Account, 183. The total amount recommended on Current Account was £28,890. Up to date the number of dwellings abandoned totals 70, of which 56 have been disposed of, the sum of £350 having been written off. The remaining 14 houses are let at good rentals sufficient to meet interest and all other charges. Farms. —Sixty-one farms were abandoned during the year, and forty were disposed of. Every endeavour is being made to get these farms occupied, as deterioration is rapidly taking place. A progressive policy has been instituted, and liberal terms are being offered in order to ensure occupation and production. AUCKLAND. (K. M. Graham, Commissioner of Crown Lands.) A general review of the position of the discharged soldiers settlement in this district shows that steady development and progress has taken place, and indicates that with added experience, and with the maintenance of fair market prices for produce, success is assured or in sight, for the majority of settlers, who are diligently applying themselves to the work of improving not only their holdings, but also the class of stock being carried. The benefits directly attributable to the revaluation of holdings and to the granting of concessions by way of remissions or postponements of rent and interest are becoming more apparent as time passes, and it is confidently expected that the additional assistance granted to many settlers during the year by way of further advances on Current Account will enable them to carry out productive improvements to the extent of placing them in a position to meet their commitments to the Department as these in future become due. During the year the investigation of Current Accounts has been continued by the Field Inspectors, and it has been found that with very few exceptions the security in stock and chattels has been fairly well maintained. In many instances a surplus in stock has made up for the fall in values since the original purchases were made. Securities in stock, especially dairy cows, are always more or less of a fluctuating nature, and are largely dependent on the attention and skill of the settler in looking after the animals in his charge. The lack of proper care and attention has in many cases been responsible for the Department's losses in the past, but with the elimination of the careless or indifferent settler there will not in the future be the same proportion of loss due to this cause. The number of Current Accounts in operation is 1,147, and the several amounts of loans and advances outstanding at the end of the year were as follows : Instalment mortgages on farms, £942,728 ; instalment mortgages on dwellings, £435,471 ; Current Account advances, £724,244.