New Zealand

The Maori race increased from 49,844 in 1911 to in 1925. The census of 1926 and subsequent estimates, already given, include half-castes, and for that reason show a greater increase. There are 130 native schools with an average daily attendance of 5,947 scholars.

Immigration.

In normal times the immigration policy of New Zealand has been to provide assistance, by free or reduced passage rates, to desirable immi grants from Great Britain. About June 1927, however, the policy was suspended (except in the case of domestic servants and a few parties of youths to under take farming) owing to unem ployment in the dominion. The date of the resumption of the policy is uncertain. Under the New Zealand scheme assistance was restricted, except in the case of domestic servants, to per sons nominated by permanent residents of the dominion, pro vided such persons were healthy and under 5o years of age. The nominator must undertake to make provision for the mainte nance and employment of the nominee, and guarantee that resi dence shall extend to at least five years. The quota of such as sisted new arrivals is fixed from period to period. From shortly after the World War of 1914-18 until 1925 the quota was 10,00o per annum, but early in 1926 it was extended to 13,500. A large section of the sheep owners of the dominion also have a fund of over £200,000, allocated out of wool profits of the period 1914-18, for training sons and daughters of sailors of the navy and mercantile marine who were killed or incapacitated during the World War, the lads in farming at a special institution in New Zealand, and the girls in domestic and light farming work at another. Free passages are provided by the Government of New Zealand, and the children are pro vided with suitable employment after training. Both schemes are under the scrutiny of the minister for immigration and both have operated with entire success and satisfaction. The British Government co-operates with the dominion in its assisted migra tion and provides a share of the passage money.

The following table shows the number of assisted immigrants entering the Dominion of New Zealand for each year of the 16 year period, 1911-1926 inclusive, immediately preceding the sus pension of the policy of governmental aid :— Land Settlement.—The total area of the dominion is 66,

390,262 ac., and the following is the condition of the land in 1927: - Acres Held on freehold . . . . . . . . . 21,214,818 Reserved for public purposes . . . . • Crown lands leased ....... 18,175,179 Crown lands yet available for disposal . . . . 2,721,488 Lands held by the native race . . . . 5,798,093 Unfit for settlement (including rivers, lakes, roads, etc.) 3,882,938 66,390,262 Of the 43,587,698 ac. of occupied land in 1927, 18,830,436 ac were in cultivation as follows :— The unimproved land was divided up into 69,42o ac., under flax; 14,197,853 ac. of tussock and native grasses; ac. of fern, scrub, etc.; 4,099,032 ac. of standing virgin bush; and 2,267,214 ac. of barren land. The Wellington and Auckland provinces possess the greatest flax areas, and Canterbury and Otago the tussock land (used for sheep grazing) ; the fern and scrub areas are well distributed; Westland and the Auckland provinces contain the chief forest lands ; the barren lands mainly consist of the mountain areas of South island. The remaining Crown lands are being thrown open as rapidly as possible. In the 1924-25 financial year 456,590 ac. were selected under the various tenures provided by the Land Act, 1924, Land for Settlements Act, 1908, and Education Reserves Amendment Act, 1910. There is legislative provision for the prevention of aggre gation in large areas and for sub-division if desirable.

The advances to Settlers Act, 1894, was embodied in the State Advances Act, 1913, under which money is lent to settlers on first mortgage of lands and improvements held under certain specified classes of tenure. The Government has authority under the act to borrow money for these advances. The scheme has proved very successful and from 1917-21 repayments exceeded advances. In 1923 its application was widened to enable larger amounts to be borrowed and increased advances to be made; as a result the loans authorized in the two succeeding years were greatly increased. In 1926-27, 1,853 loans amounting to a total of £1,980,795 were authorized. (H. J. B. D.)