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Maori Land Boards The financial positions of the Maori Land Boards—Tokerau and WaikatoManiapoto in Auckland, the Waiariki Board in Rotoma, Tairawhiti Board in Gisborne, Aotea in Wanganui, and the Ikaroa and South Island Boards in Wellington—are sound. A full report on the farming activities of these bodies, controlled, by the Board of Native Affairs, appears in Part II of this report. Native Trustee The investments of the Native Trustee and the seven Maori Land Boards, controlled, as they are, by the Board of Native Affairs, show a sound financial position. At the conclusion of the last financial year the Native Trustee had £246,930 invested in Government securities, £358,615 on mortgage, and a further £58,929 by way of overdraft to stations and other farm properties. The Maori Land Boards at 31st March had £280,932 on deposit with the Native Trustee, £314,236 invested in Government securities, £242,273 invested in mortgages to various Maoris, and had granted overdrafts amounting to £118,985 to various properties engaged in primary production. The total liability to Maori beneficiaries of institutions) under the control of the Board of Native Affairs was £883,586, this being covered by investments amounting to £1,442,986, reserve funds of £391,388, and cash balances of £111,954. Native Housmg At 31st March, 1946, 58 teams with a total of 198 workmen (including 23 rehabilitation trainees) were engaged on building, including plumbing and painting. Expert supervision is exercised over the operations by 17 Supervisors with headquarters in various localities, mainly in the North Island, but covering also the South Island. There were 110 .jobs in progress at the end of the year. Operations are more fully dealt with in Part IV of this report. Maori Rehabilitation Finance Committee During the year twelve farms were purchased for ex-soldier settlement and sixteen men established on holdings. Forty-two advances were made for the purchase of furniture and fifty-four for the building of homes. A full report on the activities of the Committee for the past year appears in Part Y of this report. The Board takes this opportunity to acknowledge the unlimited debt to members of the Maori race who served with the Armed Forces in all their activities, both overseas and in New Zealand. The Board pays homage to those who fell in the service of their country and extends to the bereaved relatives its full sympathy, and trusts that those invalided home will soon be restored to their best health. In conclusion, the Board acknowledges the services of all officers of the Native Department, who, in carrying out the Board's intensive policy of extending development and production, are materially contributing to the Dominion's national economy. Accompanying this statement are reports on departmental development schemes, on Maori Land Board and Native Trust farming operations, on activities under the Native Housing Scheme, and upon the work of the Maori Rehabilitation Finance Committee and the enterprises under the asgis of the East Coast Commissioner. Native Minister.

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