C.—9

10

GENERAL REMARKS. Notwithstanding the decline in the prices of farm-products—excluding wool—which has been experienced during the year, it is considered that in most cases the values determined upon by the Revaluation Board leave a sufficient margin that will enable settlers, with economy, to overcome the temporary set-back due to deflation in prices. Unfortunately, it is evident that areas which a few years ago were considered large enough to make a living off are now, through altered economic conditions, too small for this purpose, and in such cases the Department must grant some measure of relief until it is possible to enlarge the holdings. In some districts the prolonged drought, followed by a long winter and short spring, affected returns from sheep-farmers, and although good prices were obtained from wool, the clips were light and lambing percentage somewhat on the low side. The slump in prices was fortunately somewhat counteracted by the increased yield of produce for the season. LANDS PROCLAIMED. The lands set apart for selection by discharged soldiers during the year totalled 7,724 acres. From the inception of the scheme to the 31st March, 1927, a total area of 1,427,490 acres has been proclaimed for soldier settlement. This area is made up as follows : — Class of Land. Area (Acres). Ordinary Crown lands .. .. .. .. .. .. 596,047 Cheviot Estate land .. .. .. .. .. .. 3,356 Land for Settlements land .. .. .. .. .. 397,089 National-endowment land .. .. .. .. .. .. 430,998 1,427,490 Proclamations have been issued revoking the setting-apart of 210,172 acres of Crown lands, and 91,653 acres of land for settlements land. APPLICATIONS FOR LAND. Applications for land under the Discharged Soldiers Settlement Act to the number of seventyeight were received during the year. The following table gives the number of applications and the area allotted during each year from the inception of the soldier-settlement scheme : —

. ,. ,. Allotments made. Year ending Applications leecive . Number. Area (Acres). 31st March, 1916 .. .. .. .. 272 2 629 1917 .. .. .. .. 522 319 143,524 1918 .. .. .. .. 513 313 103,362 1919 .. .. .. .. 1,379 348 117,018 1920 .. .. .. .. 5,041 932 403,891 1921 .. .. .. .. 5,396 1,087 414,867 1922 .. .. .. .. 878 403 97,972 1923 .. .. .. .. 284 146 25,113 1924 .. .. .. .. 216 79 16,910 1925 .. .. .. .. 123 47 9,014 1926 .. .. .. .. 109 86 20,500 1927 .. .. .. .. 78 66 17,412 Totals for twelve years .. .. 14,811 3,828 1,370,212