G.—9

1931. NEW ZEALAND.

NATIVE LAND COURTS AND OTHER MATTERS UNDER CONTROL OF NATIVE DEPARTMENT. REPORT OF UNDER-SECRETARY FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1931.

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

Native Department, Ist July, 1931. The Hon. the Native Minister, Wellington. Herewith is submitted a report upon the activities of the Department for the period ended 31st March. 1931. R. N. Jones, Under-Seeretary. Native Land Courts. The business transacted by the Native Land Court and the Native Appellate Court is set out in Table A. The fees collected amounted to £4,908 as against £5,316 for the preceding period. Maori Land Boards. The areas of Native land disposed of by private dealings are as follows : -KT i Area. Number. A R p Sales 344 49,163 3 3 Leases .. ..309 43,717 3 9 The areas disposed of last year were : Sold, 40,080 acres 1 rood 3 perches; leased, 46,777 acres 1 rood 30 perches. The Boards received in fees £1,788, as against £1,549 last year, an increase of £239, while the commissions collected fell from £5,044 last year to £4,882, a decrease of £162, leaving a net increase of £77. Native land remaining vested in the Boards at 31st March, 1931, was as follows : — A. B. P. Area as at 31st March, 1930 .. .. ... .. 659,938 118 Area sold or revested .. .. .. .. • • 2,468 0 5 Balance 657,470 1 13 The funds held or invested by the Boards increased by £13,017 Is. 4d. during the year. The following are the figures as at 31st March, 1931. £ s. d. On deposit with the Native Trustee .. .. .. .. 191,152 19 10 Government securities .. .. .. • ■ .. 31,770 0 0 Other securities and advances .. .. . • • • 367,265 1 3 Cash balances .. .. .. •• •• •• 38,808 13J|2 £628,996 14 3 Native Land Purchase Board. Native land purchased by the Crown amounted to 20,608 acres. Since 1910 1,534,194 acres of Native land have been acquired through the Native Land Purchase Board. The estimated area of Native land still owned by Maoris in the North Island is as follows :— Acres. Acres. Estimated as at 31st March, 1930 .. .. .. .. 3,947,215 Sales to Crown .. .. .. .. •• 20,608 Sales to individuals .. .. .. •• 46,744 67,352 3,879,863