G.—9.

ALIENATIONS OF NATIVE LAND The number of alienations during the year was 508 and the area affected 38,766 acres, compared with 526 alienations and 59,490 acres last year. Particulars are as follows :

The estimated area of Native land remaining to Maoris is 4,014,800 acres. LEGISLATION. The Native Purposes Act, 1939, included important amendments to the general law in relation to Natives and Native land. For example, section 3 confers jurisdiction upon the Native Land Court to determine questions arising as to the status of persons or land , sections 4 and 5 relate to Crown lands taken over for development and settlement for Natives, and provide for the issue of titles in respect of these lands, against which dealings may be registered, section 6 prevents merger of the title to European lands acquired by the Board of Native Affairs on behalf of the Crown with any other Crown interest, and enables the titles to these lands to be dealt with by the Board of Native Affairs , section 7 provides proper safeguards for the recording of marriages between Natives which are celebrated without full compliance with the Marriage Act. The remaining provisions of the Act relate principally to local matters. EXPENDITURE FROM CONSOLIDATED FUND. For the year ended 31st March, 1940, the gross expenditure from Consolidated Fund vote " Native " was £561,511, and the recoveries totalled £25,767 Brief particulars of the net expenditure covering general costs of administration and grants for Native purposes are as follows:— General administration — £ £ £ Salaries and staff expenses (including travelling) 118,563 Office expenses (rent, stationery, postages, &c.) 13,718 132,281 Less recoveries from the Native Trustee, Maori Land Boards, and miscellaneous . 24,854 107,427 Purchase of equipment (motor-vehicles, office building, and furniture) 1,030 108,457 Grants for Native purposes— Ahuwhenua Trophy 20 Maori employment promotion 400,000 Maori participation, Centennial Exhibition 6,534 Maori Purposes Fund 600 Memorials 300 Rehabilitation, Hawke's Bay flood areas 685 Survey liens written off 8,000 Water-supplies 50 416,189 Protection of Native landDestruction of rabbits 1,098 Clearing of noxious weeds 5,000 6,098 Taranaki lands compensation 5,000 £535,744 Although the total cost of administration amounted to £133,311, representing approximately 4-25 per cent, of the year's turnover of £3,094,417, the net cost to the State was only £102,799 after deducting sums of £24,854 (recovered from the Native Trustee and the Maori Land Boards) and £5,658 (fees of the Native Land Courts and the Maori Land Boards collected in stamps and credited to the

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1938-39. 1939-40. Number. Acres. Number. Acres. Sales 175 10,158 146 3,664 Leases 351 49,332 362 35,102 Totals 526 59,490- 508 38,766 Note. —A proportion of these alienations was in favour of Native alienees.