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3. There is a double purpose behind this development. The most important is the establishment of the owners on their lands as independent self-supporting occupiers. The other, a more national outlook, is the continuation of the development of the country's assets, with its effect on national economy. 4. Success calls for reciprocal understanding between the Administration and the people, and it is pleasing to see the keenness displayed by the Maori people in their endeavours to accept the responsibility of citizenship. 5. Development and settlement has proceeded during the year in all parts of the country to the limit allowed by the supply of material and labour. A further 38 individual occupiers were settled on sections, bringing the total to 1,781, of whom 435 have satisfactory permanent occupational rights in the form of ownership or long-term leases. 6. Work has been continued in the development for dairy purposes of the Pouakani Block, near Maraetai Hydro Works. Work commenced in the spring of 1948 and 5,300 acres are now in grass, and another 3,764 acres are being broken in. "Further new development has been commenced on a large area near Tokaanu, and some 3,000 acres have been sown. 7; The total in grass in all development schemes is now 278,808 acres. There is a reduction of pasture in two districts due mainly to reclassification of reverted pasture and to release of some pasture land from control of the Board. 8. Special attention will be devoted in the future to the training, especially in modern dairy-farming methods, of selected prospective settlers. They will then be better fitted to obtain the best returns from their farm holdings. In the past much has been achieved by instruction and advice given on the farm itself, but a new system will be put into operation when training farms are established. One training establishment will be commenced near Tauranga, and a second will be situated on the Pouakani Block when preparations have been completed. 9. The question of tenure has called for attention. Without satisfactory tenure, an occupier of land suffers from a feeling of insecurity. Realizing this, and in order to provide the greatest possible incentive to occupiers, action has been taken towards the granting of secure tenure to qualified settlers. 10. Much remains to be done in the consolidation of titles to the lands under development, as the present condition of titles is proving a handicap in the granting of tenures. During the year, consolidation work, commenced years ago and interrupted by the war, has been brought to the forefront and special staff has been allocated for this work. 11. Production continues to increase, and the returns at 31st March, 1950, again reflect an increase over those of the previous year. . 12. The Ahuwhenua Trophy was won this year by Mr. G. Thompson, of Otorohanga. This settler has had practically no supervision and has relied on his own initiative. Second place was filled by Mr. P. Toroa, of Ruatoria. The' competition revealed a high standard of farming and continues to fulfill the purpose of its originator. The Board, of which I am Chairman, congratulates these two successful Maori farmers, and hopes that the Other competitors will continue to strive for success. Housing and Building 13. Progress continues to be made in the provision of decent housing for the Maori people, and the rate of production has been accelerated. New houses erected in the year totalled 398, against 310 completed in the previous year. In addition to this, existing houses have been repaired, and renovated, and farm buildings such as cow-sheds, storesheds, and wool-sheds have been erected by the building organization for the properties farmed under the Maori land development schemes

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