B.—4a,

Summary. 789. The savings recommended herein, so far as they can be assessed, are detailed hereunder £ Increase in registration fees .. .. • • ■ ■ • ■ • • • • 1 > 000 Scaffolding inspection —fees to be charged .. . . . ■ • ■ • • 2,000 Subdivision I—Labour. £ Arl mini strati on of Shearers' Accommodation Act .. .. .. 360 Allowances to officers of Department of Justice .. .. . ■ 130 Advertising .. ■ • • • • • ■ • • ■ • • 50 Department of Justice —services of officers .. . . . . • • 50 Expenses, medical referees, &c. .. .. . . • ■ • ■ 10 Fees to assessors of Conciliation Councils .. . . . ■ • • 650 Freight, cartage, and transport charges .. . . . • . • 50 Office fittings and requisites . . . • • • • ■ • • 100 Postage, telegrams, rent of boxes .. .. • • • • • • 875 Printing and stationery .. • ■ ■ • • • • • • • 500 Rent of office accommodation . . .. .. • • 1,200 Telephone services, &c. .. • • • ■ • • • • • • 100 Transfer and removal expenses .. .. . ■ ■ • • • 300 Travelling allowances and expenses .. . . . . • • .. 1,500 Weights and Measures Act, &c. . . .. .. • • • • 175 Preparation, revision, and registration of rules for unions .. . . 300 6,350 Subdivision ll—lmmigration. Salaries .. .. ■ • • • • • • • • • • • 2,600 Administration and general expenses .. . . .. • • 2, 500 Amount to cover grants and accommodation for immigrants .. .. 150 Amount payable to Matrons, &c. .. .. .. • • • • 200 Portion of salaries in High Commissioner's Office .. .. .. 2,400 ■ 7,850 £17,200 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND SURVEY. 790. This Department is constituted under the Land Act, 1924 (a consolidation of previous measures), and its activities are many and various and may be briefly summarized as follow : — (1) Administration of the Land Act, 1924, and the Education Reserves Act, 1928, including— (a) Surveys of land. (b) Preparation of Crown land for settlement. (e) Issue of title to selectors. (d) Revaluation of Crown leaseholds. (e) Road legalization. (/) Preparation and publication of maps and lithographs. (g) Oversight of subdivisional surveys of privately owned land outside towns and boroughs. (2) Administration of Land for Settlements Act, 1925, including — (a) Purchase of land for settlement purposes. (b) Subdivision and preparation of lands for settlement. (c) Development of Crown and settlement lands. (d) Advances to settlers for improvements on undeveloped lands and the purchase of stock. (3) Administration of Discharged Soldiers Settlement Act, 1915, and amendments, involving the administration of securities for loans totalling approximately £15,000,000. (4) Administration of public reserves, domains, national parks, and scenic reserves. (5) Construction and maintenance of drainage schemes under the Rangitaiki Land Drainage Act, 1910 ; the Swamp Drainage Act, 1915 ; and the Hauraki Plains Act, 1926. (6) Miscellaneous duties in connection with the Mining Act of 1926, Native Land Act, 1931, &c., including the administration of various endowments of land set aside for special purposes. 791. We shall, as far as possible, deal with the various activities of the Department as set out above, but at the outset would state that in a period of depression, such as the present, the administration of the Department is rendered more difficult than it should normally be, and it is accordingly impossible to suggest a drastic reduction in personnel if the interests of the State are to be adequately protected. 792. It is well known that the majority of Crown tenants and mortgagors, in common with other farmers, are having a hard struggle, and it appears to be certain that relief must be given in some manner to those Crown tenants and mortgagors who, although reasonably efficient farmers, cannot pay their way while prices of primary produce remain as at present.

82