G.—9,

General Maori Welfare—As already mentioned in a previous report, tlie health of Natives m the Tokerau district has suffered in the past through lack of suitable housing-accommodation, but with the improvement now being achieved and the valuable co-operation of the officers of the Department of Health it is confidently anticipated that a material improvement will be manifested, particularly in the incidcnce|of tuberculosis. The improvement and extension of educational facilities for Maori children in the North, which has been the subject of comment in a previous report, continues to have "results, and the Education Department should receive the highest praise for what it has done in this most important phase of the work. With the increasing Maori population one of the major problems in this district is the dearth of suitable farming areas for those Natives who do not possess adequate landed interests. It is very apparent that other avenues of employment will require to be found and steps taken to ensure that the coming generation is afforded suitable training and education which will enable it to be absorbed into the industrial and general life of the Dominion. Waikato-Maniapoto District. Native Land Court.—The Judge of the district has been fully occupied during the year with the business of the Court. Sittings were held on circuit at Thames, Ngaruawahia, Kawhia, and Te Kuiti, in addition to the usual fixtures in Auckland, where a sitting of the Appellate Court was also held. As well as the usual volume of business dealt with in open Court, numerous matters have been attended to by the Judge in Chambers. The Natives maintain their interest in the proceedings, and it is evident that the Maori people continue to look with confidence to the Court to maintain their rights to land and to deal impartially with the various matters which arise for settlement. The business of the Court is affected by changing times and conditions, but its importance to the Maori remains undiminished. Consolidation.—ln the Maniapoto consolidation area the main ground work of those schemes which have been authorized has been completed. The necessary surveys are being made from time to time, and final orders are being drawn wherever possible. Considerable progress has been made m the preparation of the scheme of consolidation of Crown and Native areas at Waimiha, where over 7 000 acres have been gazetted for development and 3,000 acres of this block have been brought under cultivation, and it is hoped shortly to place the final scheme before the Court for submission to the Native Minister. In a number of cases the Court has been able to arrange between individual owners exchanges which have been similar in effect, although more limited in range, to the more comprehensive consolidation schemes. Maori Land Board. —During the year routine business of the Board has involved consideration of many matters arising out of its trusteeship of large areas of Native land which are vested in it. Certain areas of these vested lands remain unoccupied, and in some cases consideration has been given to the question of having these areas dealt with under the development legislation administered by the Department Otherwise there has been little public demand for these unoccupied areas and no steps have been taken to place them on the market. The fact that all leases of vested lands are required by statute to expire in November, 1957, renders these areas unattractive to prospective lessees. Ihe demand for Native township sections has, however, been maintained, and most of the more desirable sections in the townships of Otorohanga, Te Kuiti, Taumarunui, and Karewa have been leased. In the past the Board has received and distributed large sums representing proceeds of alienations of Native lands, but the amount received during the year from this source has been comparatively small. In recent vears the Court has discouraged the alienation of Native areas, and it, is only m special cases that these" transactions are now confirmed by the Court. During the year social-security charge due by Native beneficiaries was collected by the Board by deduction from payments of income. Board's Finances.—The book value of the Board's assets is well maintained at £99,836, a very large proportion of which are liquid in cash or at call. During the year £17,467 was received on behalf of beneficiaries, and distributions amounted to £23,937 The finances of the Board are sound, and its reserves ample to meet all contingencies. Housing —The unsatisfactory nature of the housing-conditions of many Natives in the district is constantly coming to the notice of the Board and the Court. The Department's activities under the Native housing legislation have resulted in a marked improvement, but this is necessarily proportionate only to the funds available. The usual practice is for the Public Works Department to undertake the actual building construction, using, where possible, Native labour under key men, and the co-operation of the Court and Board is always available in arranging the necessary house-sites and securing repayments by charging orders and rent assignments, &c. Up to the 31st March, 1940, advances approved under the Native Housing Act amounted to £8,439, and under the Special Housing Fund for indigent cases, £18,694. At that date a total of sixty-four houses had been erected or repaired and a further five were in the course of erection. General Maori Welfare.—Fiom the observation of the Court and its officers it would appear that during the past few years the health of the Maoris in this district has shown a slight general improvement. Reports submitted by officers of the Health Department concerning the condition of those Natives occupying dwellings recently erected by the Native Department indicate that improved housing soon reflects itself in the health of the people, and it is hoped that this benefit will be maintained. At the same time, a slow educative process is essential to solve the problems of unwise spending, overindulgence in alcoholic liquor, and insanitary conditions in the home.

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