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ADVANCES MADE TO CROWN TENANTS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND STOCKING OF THEIR HOLDINGS Amounts advanced for the year ended 31st March, 1945 : — Improvements .. .. .. .. .. .. £1,122 Stock .. .. .. .. .. .. .. • ■ £476 Number of advances made .. .. .. .. .. .. 28 Readvances from sales of farm-produce to meet obligations .. £6, 630 DISCHARGED SOLDIERS SETTLEMENT ACT, 1915 The following particulars are supplied pursuant to section 14 of the Discharged Soldiers Settlement Act, 1915 :— Total Area proclaimed since Inception of the Scheme Class of Land. Area (Acres). Ordinary Crown lands .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,048,430 Land-for-settlements land .. .. .. . . .. 405,976 Cheviot Estate land .. .. .. .. .. .. 3,356 1,457,762 Proclamations have been issued revoking the setting-apart of 257,936 acres of Crown land and 108,419 acres of land-for-settlements land. From the inception of the soldier-settlement scheme in 1915 the total applications receivednumber 15,181 and the allotments made number 4,112, covering a total area of 1,446,160 acres. The Discharged Soldiers Settlement Account was abolished by section 6 of the Finance Act, 1937.. STAFF On account of the number of officers still serving with the Forces and some on loan toother Departments, together with the increased work brought about by the operation of the Servicemen's Settlement and Land Sales Act and the settlement of ex-servicemen, the year under review has been one of the most difficult ever experienced from the viewpoint of staff. The results achieved, in spite of almost insuperable staff difficulties, compels my admiration, and I offer my warmest thanks to all officers for their work, their co-operation, and their help. In spite of this acute position, several officers were allowed to retire. These included Mr. H. W. C. Mackintosh, Commissioner of Crown Lands, Wellington, after forty-six years' service; Mr. T. Cagney, Commissioner of Crown Lands, lnvercargill, after forty-three years' service; Mr. N. C. Kensington, Commissioner of Crown Lands, Christchurch, after forty years' service, and Mr. P. R. Wilkinson, Commissioner of Crown Lands, Nelson, after thirty-five years. All had given faithful and meritorious service, and I have pleasure in acknowledging same and wishing them well in their retirement. I regret to record the death of Mr. H. L. Primrose,. Commissioner of Crown Lands, Gisborne, after thirty-three years' service.
EXPENDITURE Summary of Expenditure approved during the Year ended 31st March, 1945
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Name of Vote or Account. Net j£d! Unt Expraditure. Recoveries. Expenditure. Voted Expenditure £ £ £ £ Vote " Lands and Survey " — Subdivision I .. .. .. .. 325,490 402,875 93,676 309,199 Subdivision II .. .. .. .. .. 88,463 67,263 .. 67,263 Subdivision III .. .. .. .. .. 7,690 4,348 .. 4,348 Total, vote " Lands and Survey " .. . . 421,643 474,486 93,676 380,810 Vote " Land for Settlements" .. .. .. 186,400 183,332 268 183,064 Vote " Small Farms Development" .. .. 1,270,000 1,389,821 351,190 1,038,631 Total, voted expenditure .. .. .. 1,878,043 2,047,639 445,134 1,602,505 Other Expenditure Land for Settlements Account: Expenditure from capital .. 4,276 .. 4,276 proceeds of sales of Crown and national endowment lands Refunds of revenue : Deposits Account expenditure and .. 65,154 .. 65,154 miscellaneous expenditure Total, departmental expenditure .. .. .. 2,117,069 445,134 1,671,935