c.—l.

EXTRACTS FROM REPORTS OF COMMISSIONERS OF CROWN LANDS. NORTH AUCKLAND. (W. D. Armit, Commissioner of Crown Lands.) No additional estates have been purchased during the year, and very few holdings have changed hands. The lessees, realizing the necessity of increasing their output to combat the low prices received for produce, have been increasing their pastures according to funds at their disposal. Consideration is being given to subdividing Aponga Settlement, near Whangarei, and making same available for settlement in suitably-sized farms. In the past this settlement has been mainly occupied as a grazing lease. AUCKLAND. (K. M. Graham, Commissioner of Crown Lands.) As with all other settlers, those on properties acquired by the Crown under the Land for Settlements Acts have been suffering from the drop in prices of primary products. On the older settlements, where settlers were firmly established before the depression commenced, the position generally is not so acute ; but in the newer settlements settlers, all of whose limited means were expended in an endeavour to get themselves established, are finding it difficult to meet their obligations to the Crown and also to maintain their pastures on their reduced incomes. By postponing rents and other concessions the Department has enabled many settlers to purchase manures and thus prevent deterioration of pastures, which is so very essential when the only method of combating low prices is increased production. No new estates have been acquired or offered for selection in this district during the year. GISBORNE. (H. L. Primrose, Commissioner of Crown Lands.) There have been no fresh developments under this heading during the year, and no suitable properties have been offered for settlement. We still have Te Wera Settlement on hand, which the Department has been farming for a few years past, and this will not be offered for some time yet. On some of the settlements, such as Ardkeen and Ohuka, unemployed labour has been used to a large extent in clearing second growth and manuka, thus benefiting both the settlers and the Crown as owner and mortgagee. HAWKE'S BAY. (J. F. Quinn, Commissioner of Crown Lands.) One or two estates were offered to the Department during the year, but no purchases were made. The latest settlements, Awamate and Rylands, are making fair progress considering the abnormal conditions. The Kakariki Settlement, of 18,300 acres, in the Wairoa County, was purchased in 1931, and has been grazed since then by the late owners. The Department has now decided to farm the area itself. A manager has been appointed and the working of the area as a Station is now under way. It is at present carrying over 10,000 sheep and about 400 head of cattle. TARANAKI. (F. H. Waters, Commissioner of Crown Lands.) The settlers on land-purchase blocks have again experienced a most difficult year, and requests for general revaluation have been made from time to time. The older dairying settlements have practically met obligations, but the later-purchased blocks are showing arrears of rental in a great number of individual cases. The lessees are all experienced farmers, however, and every effort is made to adjust the position fairly as between the tenant and the State. Areas subdivided for closer settlement of from 5 to 20 acres in the vicinity of towns do not allow for creation of reserves, even during a period of good prices. Under present conditions the tenants find themselves in difficulties whenever loss of outside employment occurs, and the small-farm revenue does not yield more than enough to meet household accounts. A determined effort to control ragwort on one dairying settlement in this district by means of sodium chlorate has shown most encouraging results. No new properties have been acquired for close subdivision during the current year. WELLINGTON. (H. W. C. Mackintosh, Commissioner of Crown Lands.) The remarks with regard to settlement on ordinary Crown land apply equally to lands acquired under the provisions of the Land for Settlements Act. Settlers on the older established settlements are better able to meet the present crisis than those of later-acquired properties, who have not yet left the " breaking-in " period behind them. In almost every case, however, where settlers rely upon the products of their farms for their incomes only a bare living is being obtained. This means that necessary maintenance both in the conduct of farms and also in flocks and herds cannot receive the desired attention. The application of fertilizers is being curtailed and may be reflected in succeeding years.

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