I

1945 NEW ZEALAND

DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND SURVEY SETTLEMENT OF CROWN LANDS (ANNUAL REPORT ON)

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

Department of Lands and Survey, Wellington, 18th July, 1945. Sir, — I have the honour to submit the annual report on the settlement of Crown lands for the year ended 31st March, 1945, together with particulars of operations under the Small Farms Act, 1932-33, the Land Laws Amendment Act, 1929, and the Servicemen's Settlement and Land Sales Act, 1943. I have, &c., R. G. Maomorran, The Hon. the Minister of Lands. Under-Secretary.

REPORT GENERAL REVIEW The activities of the Department during the year were concentrated largely on the acquisition and preparation for settlement of suitable areas to meet the requirements of discharged servicemen. Particulars of the operations in this direction are given under a separate heading. As a result of the continuance of war conditions, farming operations were again affected by the shortage of phosphatic fertilizers and the lack of man-power. However, the copious rains which fell in most districts resulted in a good growth of pasture and, with satisfactory prices prevailing for stock and farm-produce, the majority of the Crown tenants had a successful year. The administration of the Servicemen's Settlement and Land Sales Act, 1943, has increased considerably the work of the Department and made heavy demands upon the available staff. A statement dealing with the operation of the Act is included in this report. At the 31st March, 1945, the tenants on the books of the Department numbered 34,886, occupying a total area of approximately 17,466,953 acres. Extracts from reports of Commissioners of Crown Lands, dealing with settlement conditions in their respective districts, are included in an Appendix to this report. LEGISLATION The Land Laws Amendment Act, 1944, contains four parts. Part I includes amendments to the Land Act, 1924, giving discharged servicemen preference at ballots and authorizing the granting of leases to discharged servicemen without competition. Part II contains amendments of a machinery nature to the Public Reserves, Domains, and National Parks Act, 1928. Included in Part 111 of the Act arc amendments to the Servicemen's Settlement and Land Sales Act, 1943 ; while Part IV amends the Small Farms Act, 1932-33, by making provision for the sale of land to discharged servicemen on agreement for sale and purchase. POSTPONEMENTS, REMISSIONS, AND ARREARS OF RENT AND INTEREST Rents and interest the payment of which remained postponed at 31st March amounted to £10,048. Arrears of rent and interest (including arrears in respect of the current half-yearly charge) totalled £139,294, while remissions for the year totalled £17,059,