©.—lO.

The total population securing a livelihood through the operation of the scheme as at the 31st March, 1937, was 959, classified as follows : —

All those classified as settlers are supplying the dairy factory, either delivering their cream to the main factory (38 suppliers) or their milk to a Ruatoki branch (79 suppliers). Actually of the 117 settlers, 40 are not yet entirely self-supporting. The general health of the population is not good, but an improvement is anticipated as a result of the provision of adequate housing made possible by the development of the lands. There is a high rate of infant mortality, which may be attributed largely to ignorance on the part of parents as to the proper care of children in early youth. The incidence of tuberculosis is, unfortunately, also high, and it has been estimated that few families are not affected in some measure. During this period of transition from a comparatively primitive mode of living to a stage of development equivalent to that of the European population, the Tulioe tribe requires education in matters of hygiene and diet. Moreover, the evils of gambling and intemperance are not absent, and these require careful and consistent eflorts towards suppression in the general scheme of improvement in the social and economic conditions of the people. The total area of the lands comprising the scheme is 31,309 acres, of which the area proposed for development is 10,000 acres. The following table sets out the approximate areas in pasture and various crops as at 31st March, 1937 : — Acres. In permanent pasture .. .. .. .. .. .. 5,443 In rough and temporary pasture .. .. .. .. .. 1,100 In maize . . .. .. ■ • • • • • ■ ■ • . 150 In other crops .. .. • • ■ ■ • • • • • • 102 Total .. .. .. .. 6,795 The growth on all pastures during the year has again been excellent. A spell of dry weather for three Weeks in the early part of December commenced to affect the pastures on the light shingly soil of the river-flats, but abundant rains, which followed before any real feed shortage, kept grass growth at a high level. This followed the top-dressing with superphosphate of 2 cwt. per acre of practically the whole of the grassed area of the scheme either in the spring or the previous autumn. Much good hay was saved before the end of December, but a month of broken weather from the last week in that month caused a considerable loss in the harvesting operations. Although this year a larger number of settlers saved a portion of their winter feed requirements in the form of ensilage, it needs to be further impressed upon the settlers the vital necessity of providing for ensilage making by the excavating of pits or trenches in the off-season. These people are at present without the training and equipment necessary for making stack silage. The concentration upon dairying amongst settlers on this scheme has resulted in a reduction in the area of maize grown, but the area in millet might well be increased in conjunction with a resuscitation of the practice of maize growing as the former crop is of great use for feed. The relatively small area in root crops is, no doubt, attributable to the necessity of pre-cultivation and inter-cultivation in the production of these crops, and with a view to ensuring care in preparation of land for these crops careful instruction and supervision will be maintained. Most of the settlers now appreciate the benefits of regular top-dressing, and they are learning to obtain the maximum from manuring by sowing at the correct time and by improved pasture control. The stock position on the scheme as at the 31st March, 1937, may be summarized as follows : —

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Dependants. Adults. i Minors. Settlers .. .. .. .. .. •• 117 199 424 Scheme employees.. .. . ■ •• 2 2 3 No. 5 Scheme workers .. .. . • • • 52 38 94 Others .. .. • • • ■ • • • • 18 4 6 Totals .. •• j 189 243 527 k Y > Grand total .. . . . . . . .. j 959

Cows. Heifers. Bulls. forkingbullocks. horses. r Milking. Dry. R.W.B. Calves. Settlers'stock .. .. j 167 2,376 378 370 361 2 217 1 200 Scheme stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • 1 208 (entire)