B—l [Ft. ll]

The Department prepares annually a return showing the names of all blocks in respect of which disposal statements have been certified during the preceding twelve months, the profit or loss on each such block, and the amount of any subsidy it may have received from the Consolidated Fund or the Employment Promotion Fund towards meeting the cost of its development. Copies of these returns for the years ended on the 31st March, 1946, and 31st March, 1947, were included, as table F, in the relative annual reports of the Department. The Department of Maori Affairs has now agreed to adopt the same procedure as the Lands and Survey Department, Considerable unexplained losses of stock are suffered on both Maori and European schemes. For example, the Manager of "Whareponga Station, part v of the Tuparoa Scheme in the Grisborne area, reported on 27th March, 1947, that losses occurred " on the Waitotoki Block which is too big for efficient handling. There is a public thoroughfare through the block and the gates are always being left open.'' ''Some sheep," he went on to say, "just disappear, and I have not yet been able to find a clue to what happens to them." In another case the Acting-Superintendent of the Lands and Survey Department, Land Development Branch, Te Kuiti, under date 9th December, 1947, reported to the police, losses on "Waitanguru Block as underSheep, 1946-47: 86 breeding-ewes, 215 wethers, and, since June, 1947, 260 wethers also. Cattle, 1946-47: 150 cattle, mostly grown steers. It is evident from relative correspondence that these losses have caused the officers in charge of the block considerable concern, even after allowance has been made for the nature of the country in which the block is situated. Rehabilitation of Ex-servicemen Expenditure incurred on the rehabilitation of ex-servicemen is controlled by various Departments and is summarized each year in Table V of parliamentary paper H.-18, which shows the amount for the year, and also the total to the date up to which the return is made. Except for tools purchased for resale to ex-servicemen, the expenditure made directly by the Rehabilitation Department is mainly of a non-recoverable nature — e.g., administration costs, grants to individuals and to societies looking after the welfare of disabled men, and costs of tuition and trade training. The acquirement and development of lands for settlement by European ex-servicemen is undertaken by the Lands and Survey Department, while the Department of Maori Affairs caters for the farming needs of the Maoris, and also advances moneys to them by way of loans for housing, furniture, tools of trade, and business purposes.

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