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1935. NEW ZEALAND.

NATIVE LAND DEVELOPMENT REPORT ON—BY BOARD OF NATIVE AFFAIRS.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Leave.

The policy of the development of Native lands or Native-owned lands with Native labour for the settlement of Maoris out of funds supplied by the State was adopted by the Government in 1929, when legislation was enacted to give statutory authority for the development of the lands offered or available for the purpose. Active operations were commenced in March, 1930, on the Horohoro Block near Rotorua, and from time to time other lands have been brought under development. At the present time there are seventy-four separate development schemes being actively worked, embracing a total area of 653,774 acres, more or less. The report now submitted, referring as it does to the operations for the year 1934-35, covers the fifth year of the Department's work on the development of Native lands and their settlement by Maoris. Brief particulars are given below of the position and extent of development under the several schemes now in operation, and the tables attached to this report give details of the expenditure incurred up to the 31st March, 1935, and also the figures showing the collections from the land in the nature of produce, wool, stock, &c., and other credits in reduction of the gross expenditure. The development and settlement of Native lands has for its primary object the promotion of the welfare of the Maoris, and to be wholly effective must comprehend the development of the man as well as the land. The members of the race provide the man-power for the work of development, and in this way receive tuition under competent instructors in the various details of land-development and farming processes. The supervision and instruction of the Department continues to be given to the Maori settlers even after settlement on defined areas in order that each settler may become a more efficient farmer. Experience has shown that the majority of the settlers are readily adaptable to correct farming practice, and display commendable enthusiasm and industry in the working of their areas. The returns from the dairying operations on the various schemes were affected by the low prices ruling for butterfat during the period under review, and the dry spell of weather experienced during last season over the greater part of the North Island was responsible for a fall in the total production below the estimate. However, notwithstanding the adverse conditions ruling, the returns showed a reasonable increase in value over the previous year. This can be judged from the amounts received by the Department as its share of the cream production, the figures being as follows: 1933-34, £28,432 Bs.; 1934-35, £30,887 7s. —an increase of £2,454 19s.

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