9

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Taranaki District Board : It is with regret that the Board records the death on the 22nd June, 1930, of Mr. H. E. Abraham, of Stratford, who had been a member of the district board since the inception of the scheme. During the year Mr. S. Blake, of Hawera, who was also one of the original members of the board, found it necessary on account of ill health to tender his resignation, which was accepted with regret. To fill the vacancies so created Messrs. H. E. Blyde, of Lepperton, and T. R. Anderson, of Stratford, were appointed members of the board. Manawatu-Wellington District Board : On 15th November, 1929, Mr. K. A. Henderson was appointed District Public Trustee, Palmerston North, in succession to Mr. A. S. Faire and consequently as District Intermediate Credit Supervisor there and chairman of the district board. Marlborough District Board : In consequence of his transfer to Christchurch Mr. G. J. Leech, who was appointed on the nomination of the local stock auctioneers' and agents' association, found it necessary to resign his position as a member of the district board. Mr. R. F. C. Priddle, of Blenheim, was nominated by the association in his place, and was appointed by the Board. Westland District Board : Upon the retirement of Mr. W. T. Morpeth from the position of Commissioner of Crown Lands for the Westland Land District, his successor, Mr. Thomas Cagnev, was appointed a member of the district board. On the 24th March, 1930, Mr. A. Bell succeeded Mr. T. R. Say well as District Public Trustee, Greymouth, and consequently as District Intermediate Credit Supervisor and chairman of the district board. Southland District Board : Upon the transfer of Mr. N. C. Kensington, Commissioner of Crown Lands for the Southland District, his successor, Mr. John Macdonald, was appointed a member of the district board. During the year Mr. T. Moss, a member of the Wairarapa District Board, was granted leave of absence in connection with an extended trip abroad, and Mr. G. A. Hodd, of Pahiatua, consented to act as a member of the district board during Mr. Moss's absence. During part of the year Mr. G. W. Hyde, District Valuer, Hamilton, was unable through ill health to act as a member of the district board and Mr. W. A. Gordon, of Hamilton, consented to act in his place. The Board desires to express its appreciation of the services which were rendered by those members of the district boards who found it necessary during the year to sever their association with the administration of the system, and its regret that their services will unavoidably be lost to the Board. LOCAL ADMINISTRATION. 17. Since the inception of the scheme decentralization to a considerable degree has been effected in regard to the detail work in order that loan transactions and other matters may be dealt with as promptly as possible ; and the Board is giving close attention to the advantages to be gained by the delegation to district boards, directors of associations, and District Intermediate Credit Supervisors, of further powers and duties in regard to the handling of loan matters. As is mentioned elsewhere in this report, extensive powers of making readvances of the proceeds of sales of stock and produce were delegated during the past year. The operations of the Board in the districts are conducted through the medium of district boards, which are concerned mainly with the consideration of applications for loans and matters arising out of the loan accounts, and of local representatives of the Board. The Dominion has been divided into sixteen districts which, in view of the association of the Public Trust Office with the Board,