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1940. NEW ZEALAND.

LAND TRANSFER AND DEEDS REGISTRATION. ANNUAL REPORT OF DEPARTMENT, 1939-40.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

Head Office, Stamp Duties Office, Wellington, Ist June, 1940. The Hon. the Minister of Stamp Duties, Wellington. I have the honour to submit the following report on the working of the Land Transfer and Deeds Registration Department for the year ended the 31st March, 1940. The returns appended show— A..—The business transacted under the Land Transfer Act. B.—The fees recoived thereunder, including the fees received on account of Crown grants. C.—The amount secured by mortgage under the said Act during the year, and the amount paid off during the year. D. —The arrears existing at the various Land Transfer Offices at the close of business on the 31st March, 1940. E.—The,number of deeds received for registration during the year ended, and the number remaining unrecorded on, the 31st March, 1940, also the fees received in the Deeds Registration Offices during the year. Business transacted. —Registration business has shown a decrease in the number of instruments registered and the amount of fees received during the year. Compulsory Registration.- The work of bringing under the provisions of the Land Transfer Act titles not previously subject to those provisions has been completed in all registries excepting those of the Auckland and the Otago Land Registration Districts. In the Otago District finality should be reached during 1941. Steady progress is being maintained in the Auckland District, but it is still too early to form an accurate estimate of when the work will be completed. The following table shows the amount of business under the Land Transfer and the Deeds Registration Acts transacted during the last five years : —

Fees under Compulsory Registration Act, 1924 —Paid for year ended 31st March, 1940, £3,884 ; outstanding, £26,075. P. G. Pearce, Secretary for Lands and Deeds.

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Year ended 31st March, 1936. 1937. 1938. 1939. 1940. * Instruments 100,275 118,301 129,492 127,668 110,236 * Searches (Land Transfer Act only) .. 53,203 75,285 103,723 105,107 101,557 Fees, excluding fees under Compulsory £50,547 £59,396 £63,930 £62,440 £59,049 Registration Act, 1924- * These figures include registrations and searches in respect of which no fees are paid or are payable.