B.—4a.

"(b) With the consent of the Native Minister acquire any land or any interest therein. " (c) Raise money upon the security of the lands or other property vested in him and expend the same for the purpose of improving, subdividing, selling, or letting the same, and for the purpose of paying off any liabilities. " (d) Farm lands, fell and dispose of timber, make and dedicate roads, construct bridges and drains, and generally manage and improve any lands vested in him." 277. A separate bank account is kept for the trust funds. Proper balance-sheets and statements of account are prepared and are subject to final confirmation by the Court. They must also be laid on the table of the House. 278. We are of opinion that as the trusts are now administered by Government officials, the lands should be vested in the Native Trustee as a special trust, subject to control by the Investment Board. 279. Any special features peculiar to the East Coast trust lands could be embodied in the legislation governing the trust, but care must be taken to ensure that in the event of losses the Consolidated Fund is not implicated. 280. We submit this as part of the general reorganization suggested later. Maori Ethnological Research Board. 281. This Board was established in terms of section 9 of the Native Land Claims Adjustment Act, 1923, to promote the study and investigation of arts, languages, customs, &c., of the Maori and cognate Pacific races. 282. To finance the fund the Native Minister was empowered to requisition at his pleasure upon the interest-moneys set aside by the Maori Land Boards and upon the profits of the Native Trustee, 283. The Board consists of nine members, with the Native Minister as Chairman, and since its inauguration its funds have been derived from the following sources : — £ Maori Land Boards .. .. .. .. .. 6,500 Maori Purposes Fund .. .. .. .. . 4,150 Native Trustee .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,000 Native Civil List .. .. .. .. .. .. 750 Internal Affairs Department .. .. . . 3,355 External Affairs Department .. .. .. .. 350 Cook Islands Administration.. .. .. .. .. 100 Interest .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 438 Sale of Publications .. .. .. .. .. 271 Subscriptions to Te Wananga Magazine .. .. .. 46 Sundry .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 23 £16,983 284. The expenditure from the inception of the Board totals £14,944, mainly in connection with publications and assistance towards research. The administration expenses amount to £2,029. The main point is that the Board draws its resources mainly from Government or semi-Government institutions. 285. We are of opinion that all moneys granted to the Board should be appropriated by Parliament and that recoveries from other sources, such as Maori Land Boards, &c., should be shown as credits-in-aid of the vote. Maori Arts and Crafts Board. 286. This Board was established under the Maori Arts and Crafts Act, 1926, to foster and encourage the study and practice of Maori arts and crafts. The Board is a body corporate, with power to establish schools, acquire property, trade in carvings, and control antiquities. It consists of nine members, with the Native Minister as Chairman. 287. The Board controls a fund whose resources are drawn from — (a) Parliamentary appropriation : (b) Maori Purposes Fund : (c) Arawa and Tuwharetoa Trust Boards : and the total amount received since the inception of the fund in 1926 is as follows : — £ Consolidated Fund .. .. .. .. .. .. 2,802 Maori Purposes Fund Control Board .. .. .. .. 2,900 Interest allowed by Native Trustee .. .. .. .. 100 £5,802

3*

35