G — 9

1933. NEW ZEALAND.

NATIVE LAND COURTS AND OTHER MATTERS UNDER CONTROL OF NATIVE DEPARTMENT. REPORT OF UNDER-SECRETARY FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1933.

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

Native Department, Ist July, 1933. The Hon. the Native Minister, Wellington. Herewith is submitted a report upon the activities of the Department for the period, ending 31st March, 1933. R. N. Jones, Under-Secretary. Native Land Courts. The business transacted by the Native Land Court and the Native Appellete Court is set out in Table A. The fees collected amounted to £3,748, as against £3,877 for the preceding period. Maori Land Boards. The Boards received in fees £1,231, as against £1,641 last year, a decrease of £410, while the commissions collected fell from £4,149 last year to £2,618, a decrease of £1,531, making a total decrease of £1,941. , Native land remaining vested in the Boards at 31st March, 1933, was as loilows : A. R. P. Area as at 31st March, 1932 657,102 0 31 Area sold or revested .. .. • • • • • • > 0 22 Balance 654,707 0 9 The funds held or invested by the Boards decreased by £29,283 2s. lid. during the year. The following are the figures as at 31st March, 1933 : £ s. d. On deposit with the Native Trustee .. •• •• •• 166,975 13 0 • • 9Q 970 0 0 Government securities .. •• •• •• w v Other securities and advances .. • • ■ ■ • • ,850 9 2 Cash balances .. • • ■ ■ • • • • . . 11,364 8 Total £576,460 10 8 Private Dealings in Native Land. The areas of Native land disposed of by private dealings are as follows Number. Area. A. R. P. Sa i es 134 4,699 1 28 Leases ;; ;; 251 34,638 034 The areas disposed of last year were : Sold, 10,645 acres 2 roods 6 perches ; leased, 27,837 acres 2 roods 22 perches.

I—G. 9.