C.—9,

GENERAL REVIEW. Discharged Soldiers Settlement Account. Loans authorized during the year number 613, involving a total amount of £97,902, as follows :—

The accounts published at the end of this report show the present position of the account, and give some idea of the action that has been necessary to meet the times. Whereas in the early years of the discharged-soldiers settlement the bulk of work originated from the settlement and rehabilitating of soldiers returned from service, to-day the problems are not so much those of fresh settlement, but rather the retention of existing mortgagors and protection of existing advances. In common with all other great lending institutions, the Lands Department has found that a period of falling prices following on boom years has made particularly difficult the administration of accounts where even in the good times there was not a great margin of security. As is only to be expected, the amounts outstanding on Sundry Debtors and Postponement Accounts have increased, rising from £661,651 at 31st March, 1932, to £794,964 at 31st March, 1933. Cash receipts for the year have also fallen by £82,468. The comparative figures of cash receipts on capital and revenue accounts for the last five years are :— 1928-29. 1929-30. 1930-31. 1931-32. 1932-33. £ £ £ £ £ Capital .. 1,205,892 1,054,123 749,090 668,396 625,316 Revenue .. 757,761 727,703 604,988 527,436 488,048 Total .. 1,963,653 1,781,826 1,354,078 1,195,832 1,113,364 It has been pointed out in previous reports that the administration of discharged-soldier settlement is not yet merely a matter of collection of rent and interest. The problems placed before the controlling authorities are many and varied and sympathetic guidance is still very necessary. The State did not meet its obligation to these men by merely putting them on the land; it has to do its utmost to keep them there. The reports received from the district offices indicate that the soldier settlers are, in the main, doing their best to meet their obligations. There is still a number who, from various causes, are not meeting the position ; but the Department is always willing and anxious to aid any genuine trier, and has repeatedly effected adjustment in order to re-establish a settler on a sound basis and to give him a reasonable chance to earn a livelihood on his farm. In my report last year I dealt very fully with the action being taken to help the soldier settlers and mortgagors. The then existing difficulties are still with us, and similar relief is being granted. The fact must not be lost sight of that the Department has two main duties —one to the -soldier mortgagor or lessee to see that he is being treated fairly, and the other to the general taxpayer to see that all things being taken into consideration the utmost revenue possible is collected. LANDS PROCLAIMED. The lands set apart for selection by discharged soldiers during the year totalled 2,835 acres, making a grand total of 1,445,799 acres proclaimed since the inception of the scheme. This large area is made up as follows : — Class of Land. . Area - Acres. Ordinary Crown lands .. .. .. .. .. 609,166 Land-for-settlements land .. .. .. .. 401,844 National-endowment land .. .. .. .... 431,433 Cheviot Estate land .. .. .. .. ... 3,356 1,445,799 te Proclamations have been issued revoking the setting-apart of 234,937 acres of Crown and national-endowment land and 102,193 acres of land-for-settlements land.

2

New Loans. Additional Loans. Number. Amount. Number. Amount. —-—- £ £ Advances on current account .. .. .. 29 5,750 513 83,253 Advances on farms, &c. .. .. .. .. 2 950 9 3,069 Advances on dwellings .. .. .. .. 3 886 57 3,994 34 7,586 579 90,316