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Rebates of Rent. For prompt payment of rent 19,467 Crown tenants were granted the usual rebate in terms of section 116 of the Land Act, 1908, and section 55 of the Land for Settlement:. Act, 1908. The amount thus rebated was £50,307. Arrears of Rent. The rent in arrear at the 31st March amounted to £51,801, which is a somewhat larger sum than shown last year, but this amount is not unduly high compared with the great increase in the revenue. A portion of the arrears is probably due to the, fact that many soldier tenants have not yet overcome the initial difficulties to be met with on going on the land and bringing their farms into profit. It is hoped that next year the position may be more satisfactory from a departmental point of view. Rangers' Inspections. In most districts the time of the Crown Lands Rangers has almost entirely been taken up during the year with work in connection with the settlement of discharged soldiers, including inspections and valuations of properties under section 2of the Act, valuations of stock, improvements, &c. As a result the ordinary statutory inspections could not be coped with, only urgent ones being made ; the others are now some what in arrear. From the reports received from the various land districts, however, it would appear that in the great majority of instances the tenants are honourably fulfilling the conditions of their leases and have effected improvements to a value greatly in excess of the statutory requirements.

Approximate Cost of Paper. —Preparation, not jiiven; printing (800 copies), £1 15s.

By Authority : Marcus P. Marks, (iovernment Printer, Wellington.—l92o.

Price. 3d.]