C—l

Ex-servicemen Settled on Development Blocks The number of ex-servicemen who have been established on permanent tenure, or on wages or other similar basis with a promise of permanent tenure on completion of the development programme, is shown in the following return. Details of the areas concerned are also given, the return covering the period of twelve months ended 31st March, 1950, and giving also the total figures from the inception of the scheme to the 31st March, 1950.

These figures do not include ex-servicemen who have been assisted by way of rehabilitation loans to purchase established farms on their own account.

The number of allotments for the year —namely, 402 —is the highest to date for any one year since the inception of the ex-servicemen settlement scheme and reflects the high purchase figures for the previous two years. It represents an increase of 64 on the previous year's figure of 338 units, which in itself was an increase of 90 on the 1947-48 figure of 248.

Return of Expenditure Under Appropriations for the Purchase of Land and Improvements and for Development and Farming Operations

21

Land District. 1st April, 1949, to 31st March, 1950. From Inception to 31st March, 1950. Area. Units. Area. Units. Acres. Acres. North Auckland 5,018 34 17,917 126 South Auckland 14,304 91 72,417 467 Gisborne 2,885 5 49,884 62 Hawke's Bay 17,046 43 51,185 146 Taranaki 2,154 14 13,592 89 Wellington 66,225 110 135,593 301 Marlborough 22,767 13 57,716 56 Nelson 195 2 1,574 18 Westland 2,437 6 3,449 8 Canterbury 32,426 42 157,030 231 Otago 22,299 28 75,218 94 Southland 4,905 14 28,768 81 Total Total for previous twelve months .. 192,661 402 664,343 1,679 167,204 338

Year Ended 31st March, 1950. Total for Year Ended 31st March, 1949. Item. Vote " Settlement of Exservicemen." Vote " Crown Lands." Total. Acquisition of land and interest therein Development operations— Chattels Materials and services Development wages Farming operations— Live-stock Seasonal expenditure Seasonal wages £ 1,991,883 105,998 1,701,542 186,210 807,017 513,732 291,219 £ 3,539 15,364 239,332 56,520 112,714 150,600 78,784 £ 1,995,422 121,362 1,940,874 242.730 919.731 664,332 370,003 £ 2,262,798 152,747 1,096,242 161,158 1,041,281 677,659 366,071 Total 5,597,601 656,853 6,254,454 5,757,956