A—i

As will be seen from the table set out in this report, 63 appeals were withdrawn during the year. The reason why so many appeals are withdrawn is explained by the fact that for various reasons the parties concerned do not always reach a final decision by the date fixed for filing appeals. Consequently, an appeal is lodged to safeguard the position and is subsequently withdrawn after mature consideration. Of the appeals lodged during the year, only 196 were proceeded with, which represent less than \ per cent, of the applications dealt with by Land Sales Committees. The Land Sales Court has given a number of important decisions during the year on appeals relative to the interpretation of various portions of" the Act and on other major issues which have been the subject of some doubt in the minds of solicitors and valuers. These decisions of the Court have no doubt had a considerable bearing on the decline in the number of appeals now being lodged. Offences under the Act During tjie year there have been a considerable number of successful prosecutions for offences under the Act and substantial penalties have been inflicted in some instances. The Exercise of Crown Rights under Part II and Part 111 (Section 51) of the Act Details of land acquired under Parts II and 111 (section 51) of the Act are given in a later section of this report under the heading of " Land Development and Settlement of Ex-servicemen."

Return of Applications for the Year ended 31st March, 1948

4

Registry. Brought forward from Previous Year. Received. Granted without Hearing. Granted after Hearing. Granted subject to Conditions Refused or Withdrawn. Total finalized. Action incomplete. Farm lands — Auckland 152 1,129 496 67 457 94 1,114 167 Hamilton 159 839 604 16 105 130 855 143 Gisborne 9 165 92 7 40 11 150 24 Napier 39 317 209 10 75 25 319 37 New Plymouth 56 400 258 1 102 37 398 58 Wellington 56 511 275 4 182 44 505 62 Blenheim 14 62 28 3 ■ 28 8 67 9 Nelson 28 275 162 86 . 27 275 28 Hokitika 1 67 40 3 14 6 63 5 Christchurch 71 798 515 20 208 51 794 75 Dunedin 96 460 239 7 174 52 472 84 Invercargill 99 443 274 7 124 65 470 72 Totals 780 5,466 3,192 145 1,595 550 5,482 764 Other lands — Auckland 869 9,424 5,341 576 3,205 257 9,379 914 Hamilton 374 3,837 2,815 88 544 252 3,699 512 Gisborne 23 689 470 12 164 22 668 44 Napier 188 1,692 1,071 11 496 75 1,653 227 New Plymouth 140 1,441 827 8 532 98 1,465 116 Wellington 901 7,255 3,793 57 3,086 402 7,338 818 Blenheim 34 476 229 14 222 23 488 22 Nelson 120 1,129 751 1 336 66 1,154 95 Hokitika 34 418 249 4 146 19 418 34 Christchurch 836 5,155 2,659 77 2,582 210 5,528 463 Dunedin 381 2,950 1,391 9 1,270 289 2,959 372 Invercargill 162 1,420 833 14 480 94 1,421 161 Totals Grand totals .. 4,062 35,886 20,429 871 13,063 1,807 36,170 3,778 4,842 41,352 23,621 1,016 14,658 2,357 41,652 4,542