G—9

Brief Analysis op Consolidated Fund Payments, less Receipts General departmental administration, salaries, travelling-expenses, £ purchase of equipment, &c. .. .. .. .. .. 238,963 Less— £ Recoveries from Native Trustee and Maori Land Boards 20,046 Miscellaneous recoveries .. .. .. .. 6,405 Court fees .. .. .. .. .. 6,249 32,700 Net cost of administration .. .. .. .. 206,263 Special payment in respect of confiscated land (Whakatohea Tribes) .. 20,000 Protection of Native land .. .. .. .. .. .. 12,688 ■Grants for Native purposes .. .. .. .. .. .. 157,597 396,548 Civil List .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 4,997 Special Acts .. .. .... .. .. .. 31,000 £432,545 DISTRICT OFFICES Waikato-Maniapoto and Tokerau Districts (Auckland) The business of the Department, Native Land Courts, and Maori Land Boards in the North Auckland, Hauraki, Waikato, and King-country districts has been considerable during the year. This is not surprising in view of the fact that probably one-third of the Maori population of New Zealand resides in these districts, including a very large Maori population in the City of Auckland, a comparatively recent development brought about by the expansion of industry and other causes. New problems have arisen through the tendency towards town life of the younger Maori people, which the Department has endeavoured in various ways to meet. A number of hostels, for example, have been established in Auckland with departmental assistance ; and the Welfare Officers are proving themselves of great assistance in attending to the problems and needs of the Maori people of the city. Native Land Court Activities During the year there were seventeen gazetted sittings of the Court in the WaikatoManiapoto District and eighteen sittings in the Tokerau District. There were also two sittings of the Native Appellate Court in the Waikato-Maniapoto District. The number of applications lodged for hearing in both districts has increased, as has also the amount of fees collected. The Court has given a good deal of attention to the question of war-service gratuities payable in respect of Maori ex-servicemen who died overseas. Recommendations by the Judges have been submitted for the information of the Hon. Minister of Defence in deciding to whom the gratuity should be paid and the manner in which the money should be used. During the year 58 of these applications were investigated in the Waikato-Maniapoto District and 192 in the Tokerau District. The rehabilitation of Maori ex-servicemen, a departmental activity which is dealt with in another report (G-10), has increased the work of the Court. Matters involving rehabilitation coming before the Court by way of partition, alienation, and otherwise show an increase ; and, in the same manner, those matters relating to Maori housing and Maori land development are tending to occupy more of the Court's time. It has to be regretted that consolidation has been delayed by the lack of trained staff, but the work will proceed as soon as experienced officers are made available. Wherever possible, Consolidation Officers have made use of the widened authority

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