G.—9

1930. NEW ZEALAND.

NATIVE LAND COURTS AND OTHER MATTERS UNDER CONTROL OF NATIVE DEPARTMENT. REPORT OF UNDER-SECRETARY FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1930.

Laid on the Table of the House of Representatives by Leave.

Native Department, Ist July, 1930. The Hon. the Native Minister, Wellington. Herewith is submitted a report upon the activities of the Department for the period ended 31st March, 1930. E. N. Jones, Under-Secretary. Native Land Courts. The business transacted by the Native Land Court and the Native Appellate Court respectively is set out in Table A. The fees collected totalled £5,316, as against £5,284 during the last preceding period. Maori Land Boards. The areas of Native land disposed of by private dealings are as follows : — Number. Sales .. .. .. .. .. ..488 40,080 1 3-1 Leases .. .. .. .. .. .. 361 46,777 130-46 The area disposed of last year was : Sold, 17,811 acres 1 rood 29 perches ; leased, 54,803 acres and 23 perches. The Boards received in fees £1,549, commission £5,044, as against £2,647 and £5,563 respectively during the previous period, a decrease of £1,617. Native land now remaining vested in Maori Land Boards is as follows : — a. r. p. Area vested as at 31st March, 1929.. .. .. .. 667,705 138-3 Areas sold or revested .. .. ... .. .. 7,767 0 20-1 659,938 1 18-2 The funds held or invested for Natives by Maori Land Boards increased by £31,594 lis. duiing the year under review. The following are the figures as at 31st March, 1930 : — £ s. d. Deposited with the Native Trustee .. .. .. .. 235,443 17 2 Government securities .. .. .. .. .. 31,770 0 0 Other securities .. .. .. .. .. .. 266,308 2 10 Advances .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 29,829 10 0 Cash balances .. .. .. .. .. .. 52,628 211 Total .. .. .. .. .. .. £615,979 12 11

I—G. 9.