G.—9.

1936. NEW ZEALAND.

NATIVE DEPARTMENT.

ANNUAL REPORT ON NATIVE LAND COURTS AND OTHER MATTERS UNDER CONTROL OF; REPORT OP UNDER-SECRETARY FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1936.

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

Native Department, Ist August, 1936. The Right Hon. the Native Minister, Wellington. Herewith is submitted a report upon the activities of the Department for the period ending 31st March, 1936. O. 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 £4,634, as against £3,884 for the preceding period. Maori Land Boards. The Boards received in fees £718, as against £855 last year, a decrease of £137, while the commissions collected rose from £3,869 last year to £4,311, an increase of £442, which represents an increase of £305 in the total of the Board fees collected ; and with the increase of £750 in Court fees there is a net increase in Court and Board fees collected of £1,055. Native land remaining vested in the Boards at the 31st March, 1936, was as follows : — A. r. p. Area as at 31st March, 1935 .. .. .. .. 656,115 336 Area sold or revested . . . . . . . . .. 1,862 3 30-59 Balance .. .. .. .. .. 654,253 0 5-41 The funds held or invested by the Boards increased by £21,038 Is. Bd. during the year. The following are the figures as at 31st March, 1936 : — £ s. d. On deposit with the Native Trustee .. .. .. .. 155,768 4 5 Government securities .. .. .. .. .. 58,743 8 4 Other securities and advances .. .. .. .. 443,971 14 2 Cash balances .. .. .. .. .. .. 22,186 18 10 Total .. .. .. .. .. .. £680,670 5 9

I—G. 9.