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Steps have been taken in many instances to limit ribbon development and ensure that subdivisions develop compactly, thus reducing the cost of services subsequently required by the owners of the lots of the subdivisions. It is hoped that legislation, which has been under review for some time, will be brought down at an early date to provide for many aspects of housing development that will accord with modern methods and economy of services. Office Work (Plan Examination) The office work carried out in connection with the examination and checking of land-survey plans for the year ending 31st March, 1946, is scheduled hereunder:—

A further increasei of 15 per cent, to 20 per cent, in this class of work is revealed this year. Arrears' in plan-examination work, on which title registrations are dependent, have been kept within bounds by the employment of staff on overtime when occasion arises. Other Office Work During the year the following miscellaneous work has been carried out by the office staff, last year's returns being shown in parentheses. Record plans (revised or redrawn) .. 164 (47) Cadastral maps (revised or redrawn) .. 49 (17) Tracings .. .. .. .. 5,485 (4,842) Photostats and prints . . . . . . 34,405 (40,333) It is pleasing to note that during the year there has been an increase in the number of record and cadastral maps drawn or revised. This work, which forms the basis of all land dealings, rating, &c., has fallen into serious arrears, which will have to be reduced by a concentrated and special effort as soon as staff is available. There is now no demand for photostats and prints by the armed services, which accounts for the falling-off in the number handled during the year.

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District. Plans placed on Instruments of Title Survey Plans examined and approved. Crown. Other Departments. Maori. Land Transfer. Auckland and North Auckland Gisborne Hawke's Bay Taranaki Wellington Marlborough Nelson Westland Oanterbury Otago Southland Totals 11,610 683 1,484 983 4,224 422 1,598 792 3,733 1,826 915 133 7 25 S 16 10 19 20 82 39 2 232 13 14 28 103 6 22 10 87 41 22 38 -7 4 4 6 1 4 683 53 110 59 274 31 154 21 274 138 33 28,270 (24,943) 361 (272) 578 (510) 59 (72) 1,830 (1,489) Last year's returns are shown in parentheses.