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1931. NEW ZEALAND.

LAND FOR SETTLEMENTS ACT, 1925 (REPORT ON THE).

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly pursuant to Section 109 of the Land for Settlements Act, 1925.

The Land Pubchase Controller to the Hon. the Ministeb of Lands. Sib, — Department of Lands and Survey, Wellington, Ist July, 1931. 'I have the honour to submit a report on land-purchase operations for' the year ended 31st March, 1931, which were carried out under the direction of my predecessor, Mr. J. B. Thompson, C.B.E. Some 254 offers of estates were considered, and twenty-nine properties were purchased during the year. The total area acquired was 61,125 acres, and the amount paid out £279,361. Included in the purchases were eleven properties, totalling 8,088 acres, acquired on behalf of approved applicants under the provisions of Part II of the Land Laws Amendment Act, 1928. Two one-man farms were purchased for discharged soldiers under section 3 of the Discharged Soldiers Settlement Amendment Act, 1917, while a property of 410 acres at Euawai was acquired for the purpose of providing run-off areas for four soldier settlers holding sections in the vicinity. A feature of the year's operations was the purchase of several estates which offer scope for development work by the Crown prior to opening the land for selection. The most important of these purchases was that of the Galatea Estate, of 22,300 acres, in the Bay of Plenty district, which was made after protracted negotiations and the most searching investigation. Possession will not be given until the 31st March, 1932 ; but arrangements have been made whereby the Crown can proceed with both access and internal roading, and also with certain development work, in order that the property as a whole may be ready for selectors at the earliest possible date. It is expected that the estate will subdivide into 120 farms, practically all of which will be suitable for dairying. In view of the generally unsatisfactory position with respect to returns from the sale of primary products, the acquisition of estates for closer settlement is at present surrounded by many difficulties, and purchases are therefore being kept under strict control. It seems probable that for some time at least operations will be confined chiefly to the acquisition of suitable areas on behalf of approved applicants under Part II of the Land Laws Amendment Act, 1928. Tables are attached giving particulars of the properties considered and lands acquired during the year, together with Eevenue Account and Balance-sheet. The usual statement (duly certified by the Controller and Auditor-General) required under the provisions of section 109 a of the Land for Settlements Act, 1925, of the moneys received into and paid out of the Land for Settlements Account during the year will be found in parliamentary paper 8.-l [Part I], being the Abstract of the Eevenue and Expenditure of the Public Account for the year ended 31st March, 193.1. 1 have, &c, W. EOBERTSON, Land Purchase Controller, The Hon. the Minister of Lands.

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Table A.—Number of Properties considered during Year ended 31st March, 1931.

Table B. —Summary of Estates acquired to the 31st March, 1931.

Table C. —Return of Land purchased and paid for from 1st April, 1930, to 31st March, 1931.

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Land District. I Number. Are *^ tetes !" Land Eistrict. Number. Are *^statos Acres. Acres. North Auckland .. 44 47,739 Nelson .. .. 3 10,140 Auckland .. .. 68 153,264 Westland .. .. 4 4,934 Gisborne .. .. 9 10,732 Canterbury .. .. 28 40,847 Hawke'sBay .. .. 21 37,005 Otago .. .. 13 11,428 Taranaki .. .. 5 6,038 Southland .. .. 15 13,873 Wellington .. .. 39 62,639 [ Marlborough .. .. 5 28,765 Totals.. .. 254 427,404

Land District. Number. Area. Purchase-money. ,_ i . •_ ... Acres. £ - - Auckland (including North Auck- 117 423,838 1,685,665 land) Hawke's Bay (including Gisborne) 71 332,317 2,450,741 Taranaki 26 30,978 375,881 Wellington 153 160,433 2,340,764 Marlborough 22 224,090 755,482 Nelson 14 48,821 150,473 Westland 3 6,032 14,062 Canterbury .. ... .. 178 451,201 3,521,523 Otago .. •■ 81 335,212 2,029,409 Southland 33 94,111 521,280 Totals .. •• 698 2,107,033 13,845,280

' _ T „ ... Price per Mode of « 0 +n om ont Arpn Amount Name ol Owner. Locality. Acr £ Acquisition. Settlement. Area. pajd _ £ s. d. Acres. £ Riddell, J. .. .. •• Te Kauwhata .. i By agreement Mangakura .. .. 3,922* Trubshaw, A. H. (Estate of late)t Te Awamutu 46 0 0 „ Rockburn .. 76 3,481 Hole, R. H. .. .. „ •• ,, Puketarata .. 423 9,015 Clark, J .{ .. .. .. Hamilton .. .. „ Bushmere .. 424 | 7,000 Nolan, V. H.{ .. .. Cambridge., j •• „ Nolan .. .. 443 | 11,572 Walters, H. E.J .. .. Morrinsville .. „ Tahuna .. .. 440! 11,156 Armstrong, G.t .. •• Te Kauwhata I .. „ Tangao .. .. 221 j 2,900 Taylor, J.J .. .. .. Cambridge., j 42 10 0 „ Nelson .. .. 160 I 6,783 Troutbeck'.H.E. .. \ Muri | _. >( Galatea .. .. 22,326 5,000§ Gifiord, 1.. xi. K>. . . J Morgan R. C t • .. .. Matamata .. \ 15 0 0 „ Morgan .. .. 415 6,229 Cullen, C. J. ' .. .. Lower Hutt .. „ Hutt Valley .. 1 1,903 Gower, R. A.J .. .. Ohingaiti .. .. „ Gower .. .. .. 1,000* Simcox, P. .. .. .. Manakau,Wel- 46 0 0 „ Waitawa .. 245 11,323 lington Wilson Bros. .. . ■ Ruatangata .. ,, Aponga .. .. .. 453* Fraser, D.J.I .. .. Whangarei .. .. „ Otarao .. .. 596 13,153§ Dreadon, H. (Estate of late)t •■ Ruawai .. 8 0 0 „ Drcadon . . .. 410 3,313 Smith, R. C. (Estate of late):f .. Matakohe .. .. „ Wliakata.. .. 508 10,000 Spain, Brown, and Co. .. Kaitaia .. .. „ Awanui .. .. 223 5,512 Maria,,!. A „ .. •• „ , 251 5,581 MacDonald T .. • ■ Fairlie .. .. „ Brinklands . . .. 100* Richards B .. .. Te Waewae 24 10 0 ! „ Te Waewae .. 274 6,712 O'Brien, T... .. .. „ 20 0 0 „ „ ..164 3,285 Jessup, Mrs. E. .. .. Wairoa, ... I „ Awamate .. 670 21,750 Hawke's Bav r 1 i Bee Bros. .. .. .. Kotemaori .. .. „ Kakariki \ Iβ'6296 J 12 ' 500 Bourke and Symonds . . „ .. .. „ „ 265 530 Crosse T± .. .. Hastings .. .. „ Woodland .. 138 11,169 Struth'ers - , ,T.+ .. .. ,. . • ■ •• - Pukahu .. .. 30 2,342 McLennan, J. .. .. Waipukurau 14 0 0 : „ RyJands .. .. 1,244 17,439 Hogg, H. R. .. .. Opotiki .. .. J „ Apanui .. .. 411 20,500 Renner, B. I. and E. R. .. Patutahi .. .. „ Repongaere Exten- 37 1,963 sion Matthews, Mrs. E.+ .. .. Mangapapa.. .. „ Ruangarehu .. 142 5,448 Tunnel Timber Co. .. .. Poro-o-tarao .. „ Tapuwae .. 3,350 6,064 Beattie Mr and Mrs. J/ .. Cambrians.. .. ., The Downs .. 4,792 30,000§ Aitken, R.. and C. .. ' ■ ■ Waipahi . . 4 10 0 „ Arthurton . . 4,502 20,263 Totals .. 61,125 279,361 * Balance of purchase-money. t Purchased under ssction 3 of the Discharged Soldiers Settlement Amendment Act, 191.7. J Purchase under Part II of the Land Laws Amendment Act, 1928. J In part. a Freehold. b Leasehold.

LAND FOR SETTLEMENTS ACCOUNT. Revenue Account for Year ended 31st March, 1931.

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Dr. General. Cheviot Estate. Total. Cr. General. Cheviot Estate. Total. To Interest on— £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. ' £ s. d. £ s. d. Loans .. .. .. .. 425,733 15 5 5,638 2 6 431,37117 11 ByRents, &c. .. .. .. .. 506,588 11 8 19,185 14 2 525,774 5 10 Capital from proceeds of sale of Crown 72,532 Oil .. 72,532 Oil Interest on sales, &c. .. .. .. 29,769 6 10 336 12 6j 30,105 19 4 lands Interest on capital expenditure — Value of Crown lands in estates 8,405 12 0 .. 8,405 12 0 £ s. d. National Endowment Trust Funds .. 776 14 8 .. 776 14 8 Te Wera Estate .. 4,81115 0 Cheviot Estate accumulated funds trans- 18,512 19 3 .. 18,512 19 3 Hutt Valley Settlement .. 6,439 110 f erred Brinklands Estate .. 202 18 9 Deposits by lessees under section 208, 270 4 10 .. 270 4 10 Land-development .. 42 14 3 Land Act, 1924 11,496 9 10 .. 11,496 9 10 Administration expenses .. .. 9,467 15 10 836 4 0 10,303 19 10 Interest on investments .. .. 23,842 9 9 9,354 15 7 33,197 5 4 Administration expenses, Land Laws 6,625 14 7 .. 6,625 14 7 ;j Interest on investments in Public Debt 46,823 4 10 115 14 0 46,938 18 10 Amendment Act, 1929 Redemption Fund Rebates —Rent and interest .. .. 33,378 16 6 1,719 2 4 35,097 18 10 Valuation fees, sections 7 and 14, Land 379 19 6 .. 379 19 6 Remissions of rents, &c. .. .. 15,406 16 3 156 10 7 15,563 6 10 ' Laws Amendment Act, 1929 Remissions and rents written off D.R.B. .. 3,104 2 1 .. 3,104 2 1 Miscellaneous .. .. .. 452 3 10 .. 452 3 10 £ s. d. Reductions by Revaluation 24,956 15 4 Board Less written off to Reserve 24,956 15 4 ! Irrecoverable rents, &c, transferred to 6,974 12 .. 6,974 1 2 Suspense Account Charges and expenses of raising loans .. 1,81717 .. 1,81717 Charges and expenses of redemptions .. 23 15 4 .. 23 15 4 Management charges of New Zealand con- 672 3 4 23 13 6 695 16 10 solidated stock Exchange on London remittances .. 578 14 3 .. 578 14 3 Stamp duty on transfer of stock .. Ill .. 717 Land for settlements —Vote Expenses — £ s. d. Audit fees .... 250 0 0 Salaries .. .. 1,000 0 0 Compensation for injuries 208 7 7 Preliminary expenses .. 4,710 13 10 Travelling-expenses .. 115 3 2 Miscellaneous .. .. 2,978 9 10 — 9,262 14 5 .. 9,262 14 5 Depreciation of plant .. .. .. 196 1 6 .. 196 1 6 Miscellaneous expenses incidental to estates 309 18 0 .. 309 18 0 Balance carried down .. .. .. 5,296 2 9 20,619 3 4 25,915 6 1 £619,352 6 3 £28,992 16 3 £648,345 2 6 , : £619,352 6 3 ' £28,992 16 3 £648,345 2 6 £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. ! ! To Balance previous year .. .. .. 460 8 6 .. 460 8 6 £ s. d. ! £ s. d. £ s. d. Reserve .. .. .. .. 4,835 14 3 20,619 3 4 25,454 17 7 To Balance brought down .. .. 5,296 2 9| 20,619 3 4 25,915 6 1 £5,296 2 9 £20,619 3 4 £25,915 6 1 I £5,296 2 9 £20,619 3 4 £25,915 6 1 Note. —Owing to the loss of all records for the Hawke's Bay Land District as a result of the earthquake and fire of the 3rd February last, accruing charges for the year relating to that district have been estimated pending the re-establishment of records.

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LAND FOR SETTLEMENTS ACCOUNT— continued. Balance-sheet as at 31st March, 1931.

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Liabilities. ... ... ._ Assets. — .. «enera.. | Cheviot. | H^™ QW " \ Total. | General. Cheviot. T ° tal - ! Loan capital — £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. j Land Account — £ s, d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. 3 percent. .. 69,165 0 0 Estates leased .. .. .. 10,505,474 16 9 385,193 9 1 3| „ .. 1,157,947 5 11 .. 160,918 0 0 Estates unlet .. .. .. 185,916 5 .8; . 325 0 0 _ ... 3| .. 530,425 0 0 4 .. 7,253,276 13 4 , 10,691,391 2 5 : 385,518 9 1 .. 11,076,909 11 6 4i .. 1,786,539 12 3 ; | £419s. 5-88d per 33;740 9 5 Estates in course of acquirement.. j 1,378 0 0 .. .. 1,378 0 0 cent. Land Laws Amendment Act. 1929 — j 5 percent. .. 159,380 0 0 Leased .. ..' .. I 9,010 0 0 5J .. 1,500 0 0 • • Unlet .. .. .. 4,340 0 0 5i „ .. 193,700 0 0 j — 5J „ .. 953,930 0 0 I 13,350 0 0 .. .. 13,350 0 0 6 „ .. 24,300 0 0 — 12,163,904 0 11 Unpaid purchase-price not yet payLess reduction, Finance Act 1,138,600 0 0 able — No. 2, 1927 Crops .. .. .. 272 0 9 : ' Buildings .. .. .. 145,396 18 11,025,304 0 11 Sales of settlement land .. 555,943 16 0 5,937 10 0 Crown lands included in estates .. 210,140 0 0 j Sales of Crown land .. .. 335,578 18 4 .. 79,683 16 11 Sales of Crown land .. .. 2,170,938 6 3 1 ; -' 1,037,190 16 9 5,937 10 0 79,683 16 11 j 1,122,812 3 8 13,406,382 7 2 Less amount expenses in opening 647, 528 1 5 Hutt Valley estates — up Crown land j •■ Purchases .. .. .. 164,715 11 9 12,758,854 5 9 160,918 0 0| .. 12,919,772 5 9 Roading and incidental expenditure 218,007 3 1 : Interest .. .. .. 49,477 9 2 Accumulated funds — 432,200 4 0 Cheviot Estate.. .. .. .. 463,388 2 1 .. 463,388 2 1 Less receipts under section 11 256,712 19 3 National Endowment Trust .. .. • .. 127,679 18 2 127,679 18 2 (2a), Hutt Valley Land Settle-- - ! Deposits by lessees under section 208, 8,362 12 3 .. .. 8,362 12 3 ment Act, 1925 175,487 4 9 .. .. 175,487 4 9 Land Act, 1924 : J Sundry creditors — Farm accounts — . Interest on capital from proceeds 7,532 0 11 j Mataikona .. .. .-. • ■ 99 3 1 of Crown land Te Wera .. .. .. 105,903 5 3 Interest on loans accrued but not 108,993 1 10 I 1,373 6 3 Brinklands .. .. ■• .. 15,946 6 3 due 1 Departmental .. .. .. 1,474 14 0 I . ' 121,948 14 7 .. .. 121,948 14 7 Miscellaneous .. .. .. 608 8 7 Turakina Domain .... 317 3 1 Plant and machinery .. .. -3,885 00 .. .. 3,885 0 0 : Advances under Deteriorated Land Act 12,071 8 0 .. .. 12,071 8 0 118,925 8 5 1,373 6 3 ..■ 120,298 14 8 Debtors' interest on advances under -544 3 7 .. .. 544 3 7 — Deteriorated Land Act Interest on loans due and unpaid .. 1,571 2 10 .. .. 1,571 2 10' Land Laws Amendment Act, 1929 — ■ • Land Laws Amendment Act, 1929, Advances to settlers .. .. 18,507 13 .. .. 18,507 1 3 section 8— Debtors for interest on advances .. j 268 18 5 .. - .. 268 18 5 Crown lands .. .. .. 8,021 6 6 - Advances for development of un- ;■ : National Endowment Account .. 1,095 4 2 occupied Crown and settlement .-.-,-■■ lands — . 9,116 10 8 .. .. 9,116 10 8 Crown lands— .•■-. Expenditure on improvements 45,881 2 1 Discharged Soldiers Settlement Ac- 2,118 11 3 .. .. 2,118 11 3 Expenditure on equipment .. 7,193 16 8 count —Advances Expenditure on stock .. 309 1 9

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Note. — Owing to the loss of all records for the Hawke's Bay Land District as a result of the earthquake and fire of the 3rd February last, accruing charges for the year relating to that district have been estimated. A sum of £14,747 is held in Deposits Account, Miscellaneous, pending identification, when portion may be allocated to the Land for Settlements Account. W. Robertson, Under-Secretary for Lands. W. E. Shaw, Accountant. I hereby certify that the Revenue Account and Balance-sheet have been duly examined and compared with the relative books and documents submitted for audit, and correctly state the position as disclosed thereby, subject to the above departmental note. The following comments are appended : (1) The Cheviot Estate, Deteriorated Lands, and the National Endowment Trust Accounts have been abolished by law and are incorporated in this account. (2) Loan liability includes £217,740 which is also included in the amount, £647,528 Is. 5d., deducted as expenses in opening up Crown lands. This liability was raised under the New Zealand State-guaranteed Advances Act, 1909, and does not appear to relate to this account, and consequently should not be reflected therein. (3) The apportionment of interest earned on temporary investments between the Cheviot and General Revenue Accounts is approximate only. (4) The interest adjustments between the account and Consolidated Fund have been only approximately calculated.— G. F. C. Campbell, Controller and Auditor-General.

Approximate Cost of Paper.— Preparation, not given printing (625 copies), £10 ss.

By Authority: W. A. G. Skinner, Government Printer, Wellington.—l93l.

Price dd.]

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Payments in advance— Rents, &e. .. 5,343 7 1 0 15 0 3 14 5,347 3 5 Settlement landRents, &c, Adjustment Account .. 129,976 11 1 6,3711111 .. 136,348 3 0 Expenditure on improvements 4,890 13 0 Depreciation Reserve— Plant, &c. .. 1,764 13 6 .. .. 1,764 13 6 Expenditure on equipment .. 136 1 9 Suspense Account—Deteriorated Land 1,538 16 5 .. 3 18 6 1,542 14 11 Expenditure on stock .. 2,677 11 6 Act Reserve for capitalized interest on 1,371 14 6 .. .. 1,371 14 6 j 61,088 6 9 .. .. 61,088 6 9 development scheme Reserve Account, including unex- 1,121,913 1 7 20,619 3 4 .. 1,142,532 4 11 ! Interest on capital expenditure 1,371 14 6 .. .. 1,371 14 6 pended loading for roads Sundry debtors— Writings-off in suspense .. .. 5,695 13 7 .. 3 9 6 5,699 3 1 Rents, &c. .. .. .. 172,298 3 10 3,371 10 2 Principal instalments —buildings .. 5,192 11 1 39 15 11 Interest on sales of Crown lands .. 499 0 4 Interest on sales of settlement land 8,131 7 5 163 5 0 Principal instalments — Sale of 7,247 18 10 .. 515 5 0 Crown lands Principal instalments— Sale of 8,167 5 8 31 15 0 settlement land Royalties .. .. .. 23 10 6 Land Laws Amendment Act, 1929, section 8— £ s. d. Rents .. .. 50 2 1 j Sales .. .. 1,430 0 0 j Interest .. 21 3 5 1,501 5 6 Insurances, &c. .. .. 187 3 10 Departmental .. .. .. 2,527 17 8 .. 7 12 8 205,776 4 8 3,606 6 1 522 17 8 209,905 8 5 Postponements of rents, &c. .. 81,285 7 11 639 18 11 .. 81,925 6 10 Interest accrued but not due — £ s. d. On investments .. 5,063 8 4 I On deferred-payment 7,401 13 0 licenses 12,465 14 81 10 0 .. 12,546 11 4 Interest due and unpaid on invest- 2,024 10 0 .. .. 2,024 10 0 ments Outstanding losses, Suspense Account 5,695 13 7 .. 3 9 6 5,699 3 1 Investment in Public Debt Redemp- 1,217,399 10 3 3,008 2 10 .. 1,220,407 13 1 tion Fund Consolidated Fund —Proportion of 62,676 18 5 .* .. 62,676 18 5 interest on Loan Account £ s. d. Cash .. .. 439,050 16 10 Investment Account 303,055 0 0 securities held 440,746 11 9 253,879 1 8 47,480 3 5 742,105 16 10 £14,166,552 8 11 £652,670 18 7 £127,690 7 6 £14,946,913 15 0 £14,166,552 8 11 £652,670 18 7 £127,690 7 6 £14,946,913 15 0