G.—7.

Economic Value of Past Surveys. From our knowledge of the position and from the statements made during the deliberations of the subcommittees, there is no doubt in our minds that a great number of surveys that have been made in the past, following on partition orders of the Court, have no economic value either as regards the lands surveyed or their owners. Many of the partitions were made in accordance with Native custom, and to satisfy the demands of individuals or party factions. Many of the survey lines are now found to be unsuitable for fencing-lines and the sections found to be not economically large enough for farming. Moreover, many of the partitions have been made in such shape as to preclude their economic utilization as farming undertakings. Unfortunately, survey costs are based not on the value of the land surveyed, but on the factors of the work involved, such as length of lines cut and cleared and necessarily include considerable expenses incurred by surveyors going to and from the field. Uniformity of Recommendations. The committees have applied themselves diligently and fearlessly to the difficult problems involved in the matter of these survey charges, and the results, which have been obtained by independent investigation, show a uniformity of recommendation which appears to demonstrate the unanimity of the investigating officers as to the need for compromise on and settlement of this all-important question affecting our Native lands. The reports of the deliberations of the several subcommittees, together with their respective recommendations, have now been submitted, and these are tabulated hereunder for ease of reference. J. H. O'Donnell. Wm. Taylor. G. P. Shepherd. Wellington, 13th November, 1930.

North Auckland District.

Only one-half of the above areas are subject to survey liens. In Schemes 1, 2, and 3 the maximum survey lien is not to exceed 5 per cent, of the unimproved value. That lands valued at 15s. an acre and under (unimproved) be wholly relieved of survey liabilities. In Scheme 4 the small amount of land available for liquidating survey liens demanded relief up up to three-quarters of the principal and the whole of the interest being recommended. The report of the committee dealing with this district indicates that the area of Native land per head of Maori population is small after elimination of unsuitable or waste land, while the Native land (in common with European land) is of a variable nature with a large area of poor country, now looked upon as waste land. These northern lands generally are difficult and costly of development, and cannot stand too great an overhead of charges in addition to cost of development. The future of the northern peninsula, in view of the large Maori population, depends upon the effective settlement of the Natives and Native lands.

4

.. . Survey Liens. , . Amount to Unim- J Amount be paid Scheme. Area. proved — recommended to by Natives j Value. Prinrinai Interest to 31st „ . . be remitted. in Cash Principal. Marchj lu30 Total. or jn Lan(J a. r. p. £ £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. 1. Bay of Islands Scheme (com- 201,733 0 12 335,371 13,564 8 0 8,973 3 4 22,537 11 4 " prising counties of Whangarei, Bay of Islands, and Kaikohe Town Board District) 2. Hokianga (comprising .114,567 1 04 174,2-70 9,463 0 8 4,602 5 10 14,065 6 6 I 0 n County of Hokianga and 1 9 11,000 0 0 Kohukohu Town Board District) 3. Mangonui (comprising 131,442 0 25 103,981 6,339 17 4 3,676 7 7 10,016 4 11 counties of MSngonui and Wlxangaroa) 4. Kaipara (comprising coun- 74,603 1 10 126,612 2,046 1 0 1,329 8 4 3,375 9 4 2,863 9 4 512 0 0 ties of Waitemata, Rodney, Otamatea, Hobson, and Great Barrier) Totals .. .. 522,345 3 11 740,234 |31,413 7 0 18,581 5 1 49,994 12 1 38,482 12 1 11,512 0 0 I