G.—9.

1935. NEW ZEALAND.

NATIVE LAND COURTS AND OTHER MATTERS UNDER CONTROL OF NATIVE DEPARTMENT. REPORT OF UNDER-SECRETARY FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1935.

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

Native Department, Ist July, 1935. The Right Hon. the Native Minister, Wellington. Herewith is submitted a report upon the activities of the Department for the period ending 31st March, 1935. 0. N. Campbell, Under-Secretary.

Native Land Courts. The business transacted by the Native Land Court and the Native Appellate Court is set out in Table A. The fees collected amounted to £3,884, as against £3,393 for the preceding period. Maori Land Boards. The Boards received in fees £855, as against £1,523 last year, a decrease of £668, while the commissions collected rose from £3,363 last year to £3,869, an increase of £506, which represents a decrease of £162 in the total of the Board fees collected ; but with the increase of £491 in Court fees there is a net increase in Court and Board fees collected of £329. Native land remaining vested in the Boards at the 31st March, 1935, was as follows : — A. k. p. Area as at 31st March, 1934 .. .. .. .. 657,365 3 18 Area sold or revested .. .. .. .. .. 1,249 3 22 Balance .. .. .. .. .. 656,115 3 36 The funds held or invested by the Boards increased by £37,433 Is. lid. during the year. The following are the figures as at 31st March, 1935 : — £ s. d. On deposit with the Native Trustee .. .. .. .. 174,519 0 4 Government securities .. .. •• .. .. 58,743 8 4 Other securities and advances .. .. .. .. 409,713 15 9 Cash balances .. .. •• •• •• •• 16,655 19 8 Total .. .. .. .. .. .. £659,632 4 1 Private Dealings in Native -Land. The areas of Native land disposed of by private dealings are as follows :— Number. a Area B Sales 168 22,CT4 3 1*77 Leases 254 34,894 1 18-87 The areas disposed of last year were —Sold, 4,693 acres 1 rood 11-78 perches ; leased, 27,076 acres 2 roods 37-72 perches. I—G. 9.