C.—s

1933. NEW ZEALAND.

LAND FOR SETTLEMENTS ACT, 1925 (REPORT ON THE).

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly pursuant to Section 109 of the Land for Settlements Act, 1925.

The Land Pubchase Controller to the Hon. the Minister of Lands. g IR _ Department of Lands and Survey, Wellington, Ist August, 1933. I have the honour to submit a report on land-purchase operations for the year ended 31st March, 1933. Some 128 offers of estates received consideration during the year ; but for various reasons it was considered inadvisable to make any purchases. The only transaction effected was the acquisition of an area of 60 acres as an addition to the Wairakau Settlement near Te Aroha. A considerable amount of improvement work in clearing, cultivating, grassing, and fencing has been carried out on the Galatea Estate, which is at present being run by the Department as a mixed farm. A demonstration farm to show the possibilities of the land is being established, and it is proposed to commence the permanent settlement of the estate early in 1934, when some twenty sections will be offered for application. Further sections will be offered in succeeding years until the whole estate has been settled. _ , Development work lias been completed on tlie Tapuwae Estate, and tlie property is now being farmed by the Department until such time as conditions for permanent settlement become more favourable. Proposals are in hand for the improvement of the unselected portion of the Aponga Settlement by way of logging-up, cleaning, roading, fencing, &c., and it is hoped to arrange for permanent settlement of this area for dairying and mixed-farming purposes early next year. Tables are attached giving particulars of the properties considered and land acquired during the year, together with Revenue Account and Balance-sheet. The usual statement (duly certified by the Controller and Auditor-General) required under the provisions of section 109 a of the Land for Settlements Act, 1925, of the moneys received into and paid out of the Land for Settlements Account during the year will be found in parliamentary paper 8.-l (Part I) being the Abstract of the Revenue and Expenditure of the Public Account for the year ended 31st March, 1933. I have, &c., W. Robertson, Land Purchase Controller. The Hon. the Minister of Lands.

I—C. 5.