C.—s

2

As was to be expected, the late feeling of uncertainty regarding stability of products and values has made the Board conservative in its purchases. The Land for Settlements Department has now been merged with the Lands and Survey Department, the Under-Secretary for Lands becoming Land Purchase Controller and Chairman of the Dominion Land Purchase Board. Mr. R. A. Rodger has been appointed as Land Purchase Inspector, and his varied experience and sound knowledge of farming economics should prove of great value in future operations. It is with regret that the retirement of Mr. J. D. Ritchie as Land Purchase Controller has to be chronicled, after many arduous years of official life. Mr. Ritchie joined the Government service in April, 1891, as Chief Inspector of Stock, and a year later was appointed as the first Secretary of the Department of Agriculture. In 1909 Mr. Ritchie was appointed Permanent Head of the Land for Settlements Department, which he controlled with conspicuous ability. Mr. Ritchie's labours on behalf of his country have the appreciation of all those who came in contact with him, and did much to advance the settlement of the Dominion. Proposals regarding legislation now under consideration will, if brought down, be of very considerable assistance in promoting land-settlement and improving the position of the settlers who come under the provisions of the Land for Settlements Act. Tables are appended summarizing the properties considered and acquired during the year, and showing the moneys received into and paid out of the Land for Settlements Account. I have, &c., J. B. Thompson, The Hon. the Minister of Lands. Land Purchase Controller.

Table A.—Number of Properties considered during the Year ended 31st March, 1927.

Table B. —Summary of Estates acquired up to the 31st March, 1927.

Land District. Number. ,^ re^ ) g'j^'J* ates ] Land District. Number. .'^ Ie^ >^il^ tate8 Acres. Acres. Auckland* .. .. 20 22,043 Westland Hawke's Bay| .. .. 9 15,873 Canterbury .. .. 5 17,170 Taranaki .. .. 2 2,752 Otago .. .. 1 635 Wellington .. .. 8 18,040 Southland .. .. 3 2,419 Marlborough .. .. 2 1,653 ' Nelson .. .. 1 80 Totals .. 51. 80,665 * Includes North Auckland. t Includes Gisborne.

Land District. Number. Area, Purchase-money. Acres £ Auckland* .. .. .. 99 590,733 1,529,768 Hawke's Bayf.. .. .. 63 311,426 2,356,804 Taranaki .. .. .. 25 27,628 369,818 Wellington .. .. .. 146 158,626 2,249,043 Marlborough 22 224,090 755,482 Nelson .. .. .. 14 48,821 150,473 Westland .. .. .. 2 5,125 8,343 Canterbury .. .. 173 447,596 3,444,747 Otago ' .. .. 73 293,188 1,779,317 Southland .. .. .. 25 90,637 457,786 Totals .. .. 642 1,997,870 13,101,581 * Includes North Auckland. f Includes Gisborne.