DEPARTMENT OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS (ANNUAL REPORT OF THE) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1928.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1928 Session I, H-22

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1928. NEW ZEALAND.

DEPARTMENT OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS (ANNUAL REPORT OF THE) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1928.

Laid on the Table of the House of Representativec- by Leave.

Sib, — Department of Internal Affairs, Wellington, 25th June, 1928. I have the honour to submit herewith the annual report of the Department for the year ended 31st March, 1928. I have, &c., J. Hislop, Under-Secretary. The Hon. Sir. M. Pomare, K.8.E., C.M.G., V.D., M.D., M.P., Acting Minister of Internal Affairs.

REPORT. Local Government. The year has again shown considerable activity and interest in matters relating to local government. Counties. —No new counties were cbnstituted, but the boundaries of eight counties were altered. In addition, the boundaries of several counties were altered consequent upon the inclusion of lands in, or exclusion of lands from, boroughs. A number of County Councils passed special orders altering riding boundaries and adjusting representation, and the usual action was taken in gazetting these. The question of the desirability or otherwise of the union of existing counties was prominent, but no definite steps were taken towards this end. Regulations were issued prescribing the rate of travellingallowances and travelling-expenses of County Councillors in attending Council or committee meetings or business of the Council. Boroughs.—One new borough—namely, Martinborough—was constituted. There was considerable activity in the matter of borough boundary alterations, no fewer than fourteen, alterations being made. Commissions of Inquiry were set up in a number of these cases. The Borough of Avondale was united with the City of Auckland, and later on the Tamaki Road District and the Orakei Road District were united with that city. A proposal was under way also to unite the Mount Roskill Road District with that city, but the poll of electors taken in the road district was adverse. The Municipal Conference again met, this time in Nelson, and, as usual, passed a number of resolutions asking for amendment of the law relating to boroughs and town districts. Legislation to give effect to some of these resolutions is being considered. Town Districts.—The Putaruru Town District, which I nlentioned in my last report as having been constituted, was subsequently declared not to form part of the County of Matamata. Whilst several matters concerning town districts were under consideration, 110 constitutions or alteration of boundaries were made during the year. Road Districts. —The year was an important one as regards road districts, in that a further step was taken towards the merging of the few remaining road districts throughout the Dominion. I have already referred to the union of the Tamaki and Orakei Road Districts with the City of Auckland, and in addition the six remaining road districts in the Waimea County and the three remaining ones in the

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Waikato County were merged by special orders passed by the Waimea and Waikato County Councils respectively. These special orders were passed as a result of the provision made in section 4, Counties Amendment Act, 1927, for the purpose of facilitating merging. There are now only nineteen road districts left in the Dominion, seven of which are contained in districts where there is at present no other form of local government. River Districts. —There were several proposals under way for the constitution and alteration of boundaries of river districts, but by the end of the year none of these had been effected. Land Drainage Districts. —Two new districts—namely, the Tahuna Drainage District, in the Piako County, and the Wiri Drainage District, in the Manakau County —were constituted ; the boundaries of three districts were altered ; extensions of time for holding the usual triennial elections were granted in a number of cases ; and the usual action was taken towards gazetting the results of various elections. Local Bodies Finance Act. —The overdraft borrowing-powers of a few newly-constituted local authorities were fixed. War Memorials. —Three local authorities were authorized to erect and maintain war memorials under the powers given by section 15 of the Finance Act, 1919. By-laws of Local Bodies. —A considerable number of by-laws were passed during the year. Four sets of by-laws (in two cases they were joint by-laws made by a number of County Councils) were approved by the Governor-General under section 109, Counties Act, 1920, and nine sets (also including two joint by-laws) were confirmed by the Minister under the By-laws Act, 1910. Public Bodies' Leases Act. —The Manakau County Council was declared a leasing authority under this Act. Designation of Districts Act. —A proposal to change the name of Stokes Valley, in the Hutt County, to Koraunui was not proceeded with. Rating Act. —Advice was received that the system of rating on the unimproved value was adopted in ten districts, in one district it was rejected, and in another district the continuation of the system was confirmed. Legislation. Two important Bills were promoted by this Department —namely, the Counties Amendment and the Local Legislation. The Counties Amendment Act as passed is of considerable importance in county government throughout the Dominion, as, generally speaking, the majority of the clauses conferred wider powers on County Councils in recognition of their greatly increased activities, arising out of the development and closer population of county areas. The Local Legislation Act contains eighty-three clauses, covering a very wide range of subjects. The size of the Act as passed is, however, not a complete indication of the activities of the Department in respect of this measure, as a large number of proposals that were considered were not finally agreed to. Every proposal respecting this measure is most exhaustively examined in order that its merits may be established, and, among other things, it is not the practice to agree to proposals which are of a continuing nature or which justify the promotion of a local Bill. As usual, a large number of local Acts were passed by Parliament, and the majority of these were first submitted by the Local Bills Committee to this Department for examination and report. Town-planning. Many local bodies were engaged during the year in the preparation of town-planning schemes, and a number of them were in communication with the Department. In some cases it is evident that the preparation of the schemes is well advanced, tentative proposals having already been submitted. The Director of Town-planning gave considerable advice and assistance to local authorites desiring such. Mr. Hammond resigned the position of Director of Town-planning, and the appointment of his successor was under consideration at the close of the year. Land-agents. During the year 1,143 licenses were issued and fourteen transfers granted, as compared with 1,085 licenses and sixteen transfers last year. There were again cases of defalcation under consideration. Animals Protection and Game Act. As usual open seasons for game-shooting and deer-stalking were provided in a number of acclimatization districts. The Government continued to assist, by way of bonus for each deer killed, In the thinning out of deer, bonuses being paid in respect of 16,499 deer killed. An open season was again fixed for opossums in a number of districts. Eight hundred and seventy licenses were issued to trappers, and 139,300 skins were taken. It was found necessary to give publicity to the provisions of the Animals Protection and Game Act, 1921 -22, and the regulations thereunder requiring persons desirous of importing birds or animals (other than domestic) to obtain prior consent. A practice had grown up of not making the necessary application until shipments had arrived, but as the result of the stand which has been taken the requirements of the Act and regulations in this respect are now generally being complied with. Persons desirous of importing birds and animals (other than domestic) who do not obtain permission prior to arranging shipments cannot be given any guarantee that they will bo allowed to land their purchases in the Dominion. During the year two pairs of nightingales were brought to the Dominion. No authority for their introduction had been obtained prior to shipment,' and it was only after due consideration that they were allowed to be landed, but only on the condition that they were not liberated in any sanctuary.

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Fire Brigades Act. During the year one new fire district —Hikurangi —was constituted. As usual, fire-hose, escapeladders, and other equipment not manufactured in the Dominion was indented through the High Commissioner's Office on direct requisition from the various Fire Boards and the United Fire Brigades Association. During the year more than the usual number of plans and specifications for erection of fire-stations in the various districts have been submitted for approval of the Minister. The usual inspections of fire brigades have been made by the Inspector of Fire Brigades. In accordance with requests received from various Government Departments arid local bodies, numerous special inspections and reports in the matter of protection of buildings, water-supply and installations, purchase of fire appliances and machinery, &c., have been made. Attention has been drawn by means of public addresses to the excessive loss of property in New Zealand by fire. Raffles. During the year 305 licenses for raffles were issued, the articles comprising pictures, paintings, drawings, sculpture, or other works of art or literature, or mechanical models. With the discontinuance of alluvial gold raffles little difficulty has been experienced in obtaining compliance with the conditions of the licenses. Passports. The result of the year's work discloses a further increase, the figures for the past year being 4,282, as compared with 4,048 for the previous period. The renewals show a decrease, from 1,335 to 1,107. This is the natural result of the issue of passports which are valid for five years before renewal is necessary. Naturalization. Naturalization was granted to 139 persons, including one minor and one Samoan. A number of certified copies of naturalization papers were also issued to replace originals lost. Soldiers' and Historical Graves. Veterans' Graves. —Contracts were arranged for permanent work on eleven Maori War graves in Leamington Cemetery, Cambridge, this work including the provision of a large monument in Coromandel granite. A similar monument was erected in Lower Mauku Cemetery, wherein rest several men who fell in the engagement at Titi Hill on the 23rd October, 1863. The graves of two men who were killed in action at Horokiwi on the 6th August, 1846, have been finished in concrete with marble tablet suitably inscribed. A number of annual grants for maintenance of Maori War cemeteries and graves were made. Great War Graves in New Zealand. —The number of notifications of deaths of returned soldiers to reach the Department during the year was 331, of which 115 were accepted as war graves, bringing the total to date to 2,223. The number of headstones ordered was 89, and the number of stones erected throughout the Dominion is 1,538. Temporary crosses to mark the graves until such "time as the military headstones are prepared were placed on 138 graves. Tenders were invited for the erection of a Cross of Sacrifice in Featherston Soldiers' Cemetery, where 160 members of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force are buried. Great War Graves Abroad. —The Imperial War Graves Commission reported that the work remaining to be done is, with some minor exceptions, either in France or Belgium, where considerably more than half the dead are buried, or in the United Kingdom, where there are nearly eighty thousand graves. The latter present special difficulties, as the graves are scattered among some ten thousand cemeteries, and in dealing with these no administrative system of grouping. can be devised to save time and labour as elsewhere. So far as New-Zealanders are concerned, there are 720 buried in 112 cemeteries ; and, with the exception of Brookwood (148), City of London (2), Codford (66), Kensal Green (15), Tidworth (100), and Walton-on-Thames (19), permanent work has yet to be carried out. Free sets of photographs of graves in cemeteries in various theatres of war were delivered to the next-of-kin of 1,803 New-Zealanders, while 71 cemetery registers were sold. Great difficulty has been experienced in tracing next-of-kin who have failed to notify changes of address. War Funds. At the close of the year there were sixty-five registered war funds in the Dominion, holding assets as per latest returns as follows— £ s. d. Thirty incorporated societies .. .. .. .. .. 832,247 2 8 Nine Red Cross organizations.. .. .. .. .. 140,251 3 4 Three Blind Soldiers'and Veterans' Homes Fund .. .. 57,197 5 0 Eleven unincorporated societies .. .. .. .. 3,777 18 2 Three Memorial Funds .. .. .. .. .. 38 19 6 One Navy League Fund .. .. .. .. .. 5,739 11 3 Five Returned Soldiers' Clubs .. .. .. .. 21,754- I 1 Three Social Funds .. .. .. .. .. .. 2,188 16 1 £1,063,194 17 1 National War Funds Council .. .. .. .. .. £160,290 8 0

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Of these figures approximately only. 60 per cent, may be taken as liquid assets available for relief, the balance being included in land and buildings and loans to soldiers. A greatly increased number of applications for relief were received, and the National War Funds Council distributed £5,000, and the Canteen and Regimental Trust Funds Board £4,500. In the case of the majority of the Patriotic Societies the periodical returns required to be rendered to the Department have been submitted promptly, and these, together with their annual reports, disclose that, although it is now nearly ten years since the Armistice was signed, the number of applications for assistance has decreased but little, and the cases become more difficult as disabilities manifest themselves in men who were discharged as physically fit. Tt is therefore apparent that there will be still as great a need for funds to assist necessitous ex-soldiers for some years to come, and the. policy of the trustees in most cases to conserve the funds under their control for such future needs has been fully justified. As the funds of the smaller organizations become exhausted their responsibilities are taken over by an adjacent provincial society or by the National War Funds Council, and the tendency is towards the administration of war-funds work to be centered in the stronger provincial organizations with sub-committees in the local centres. Dominion Archives. Very good progress has been made in the sorting and classification of the New Zealand Company's papers, practically the whole of which have now been gone through. Eighty-seven volumes have been bound and accessioned, but they will require to be indexed before they are in proper condition for research purposes. The papers belonging to the Provincial Government period are now being sorted, and seventy-eight volumes of this class of archives have been bound and accessioned. They also require indexing before they can be consulted. Some very important letter-books bearing on the Hauhau rebellion have been transcribed in typescript, as, having been immersed in water at some time, they had become almost illegible. The number of volumes now bound and accessioned is more than four hundred, including twenty-five volumes of the Governor's duplicate despatches dating from 1840 to 1855, and 270 volumes of the Colonial Secretary's inward letters dating down to 1865. The Archivist has been in touch with libraries in the provinces with a view to assisting them to complete their sets of provincial publications. Dominion Museum. Staff. — Mr. B. Osborne was appointed in August, 1927, as Illustrator and photographer. His time has been occupied almost entirely in illustrating, chiefly for Mr. Best's forthcoming bulletin on Maori method of fishing. Ethnology. —The registering and card-cataloguing of the Maori collections has been steadily continued by Mr. Phillipps. A number of articles previously in store ha.ve been placed on exhibition. The whole of the perishable parts of the collections in the Dominion Farmers' Institute have been sprayed with disinfectant. Additions to the collections include 131 articles, mainly from the Western Pacific, presented by Sir F. R. Price ; a small collection of Welsh peasant implements, received by exchange from Sir H. Reichel ; a large amount of Maori material from Taranaki, deposited by Mr. Ij. S. Mackie ; and a collection of various articles from Nauru and other places, deposited by Mr. P. H. Saunders. Mr. Best has continued his researches on the Maori. A completed bulletin on fishing lore is ready for publication, another on Maori religion and mythology is in course of preparation. In addition Mr. Best has published in the Journal of the Polynesian Society the following papers : " The Discovery and Settlement of Rarotonga by Polynesians " ; Raumahora and Takarangi " ; and Haw and Wa-iraka." Mr. Phillipps has published a note on a carved rock in Taranaki. Herbarium. —Additions to the herbarium include collections of plants made by Mr. Oliver on Mount Ruapehu and in the Arthur's Pass district. Research work has been carried out on these. An ecological account of the epiphytes of New Zealand has been prepared for publication. Dr. A. W. Hill, Director of the Roval Botanic Gardens, Kew, paid a visit to the herbarium in February, and included a report on it in his general report to the Right Hon. the Prime Minister. Birds. —Additions to the collection include specimens collected by the Taxidermist in Cook Strait and on the Tararua R.anges, and a lot of thirteen skins received from South Australia on an exchange basis. Most of the collected specimens have been mounted and placed on exhibition. The work of cleaning and remounting the old collection in the Museum has been continued. Fishes. — I The fish collection on exhibition has been overhauled, rearranged, and entered in the new register. A few additions have been made to the collections, including an undescribed species of Galaxias from Waikaremoana, presented by Mr. A. Kean. Mr. Phillipps has continued his researches on the fishes of New Zealand, and has published during the year the following papers : " Bibliography of New Zealand Fishes " ; "A Check-list of New Zealand Fishes " ; " Notes on New Zealand Fishes." Insects. —Miss Castle has continued the work of classifying and mounting the large insect collection which the Museum now contains. Collections have been made by her on Mount Egmont, Kapiti Island, and the Rimutaka Mountains. Mollusca. —Collections have been received by exchange from Mr. W. H. Weeks in the United States, and from Dr. W. '11.I 1 . Elliott in England. A collection of fossil shells from Chatton, south Otago, was presented by Mr. E. M. Christie. During the year Miss Mestayer published a paper on "Some New Zealand Mollusca."

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Library. —During the year the exchanges have been regularly received and a number of books purchased. A considerable number of volumes have been bound. Miss Tewsley has continued the work of indexing the pamphlets. International Exchange Service. —Twenty-nine cases of publications have been received from the Smithsonian Institution, and the contents have been distributed to various recipients throughout, the Dominion. Publications have also been received from the International Exchange Services of Belgium, Hungary, Poland, and Germany. Publications. —In addition to papers published by members of the staff noted above, the following Manuals have been issued by the Board of Science and Art : No. 5, " Wild Life in New Zealand, Part 11, Introduced Birds, Frogs, and Fishes," by the Hon. G. M. Thomson ; No. 6, " New Zealand Plants and their Story," 3rd edition, by Dr. L. Cockayne ; No. 6, " Place-names of Banks Peninsula," by Johannes C. Andersen ; No. 7, " Bracliiopod Morphology and Genera," by Dr. J. Allan Thomson. Also, the following Dominion Museum Bulletins have been issued by the Board of Maori Ethnological Research : No. 6, " The Pa Maori," by Elsdon Best; No. 8, " Games and Pastimes of the Maori," by Elsdon Best. Alexander Turnbull Library. Cataloguing.—The number of volumes classified, numbered, and arranged in order on the shelves now amounts to over thirty-two thousand, which include the books in the Mantell Collection. The greater part of these deal with Pacific literature. About one hundred and sixty volumes were sent for binding, and twenty-two etchings and engravings for mounting and putting in Solander cases. Additions. —Including just on a thousand donated volumes, one thousand three hundred were added to the library during the year. The additions embrace works in classic tongues (Latin and Greek), Danish, Dutch. French, and Swedish. Valuable purchases were a water-colour drawing of Rangihaeata, the famous ally of Te Rauparaha, by C. Heaphy, 1840 ; half a dozen etchings of Cook's " Endeavour" (the renamed " Earl of Pembroke ") leaving Whitby, and scenes of Whitby, by Crashaw ; the late S. Percy Smith's copy of Sir George Grey's Ko nga moteatea; four Lawson manuscript letters. Donations. —During the year there were donations by thirty-six individual donors, some of whom made donations at two or three different times, and of many volumes. Pamphlets are not included in the number of additions above. The principal donations were as follows : Mrs. W. G. Mantell, Wellington, about nine hundred volumes and about two thousand autograph letters and other manuscripts ; the Bernice P. Bishop Museum, Honolulu, a set of their more recent publications on anthropology, &c., in the Pacific ; the Swedenborg Society, London, a facsimile reproduction of the works of Swedenborg ; Sir Joseph J. Kinsey, Christchurch, a fine water-colour panoramic view of early Nelson ; Maggs Bros., London, seven morocco-bound volumes of their illustrated catalogues, 1926 ; Sir Douglas McLean, framed enlarged portrait of Algernon Gray Tollemache. Besides these were :E. A. Dillon —" Echoes of the War, and Other Poems," by J. H. Dillon ; Thomas Humphries - Rolling's "Ancient History" (2 vols.) ; Sir Frederick R. Chapman —" A Canadian Freeholder" (3 vols.), " Charters of the Old English Colonies in America," and others ; Sir Joseph J. Kinsey—" Livy " and " Thucydides " (Classics), (7 vols.) ; Hon. W. H. Triggs — numerous historical volumes and pamphlets ; Sir George Fenwick — L ' American Notes, 1924 " ; Spectator Publishing Co., Melbourne —" New Samoan Grammar," by S. Churchward ; Mrs. H. B. R. Parham, Fiji —" Fern Leaves," and other booklets ;A. H. Preece —typed notes by G. A. Preece for Major Gascoyne ; J. P. Maxwell —Manuscript letter from C. Brown (son of Keats's friend) regarding a copy of Voltaire's " Philosophical Dictionary " annotated by W. Savage Landor and now in the library ; Dr. F. A. Bett—" Feejean and English Dictionary," by D. Hazlewood, and other volumes and pamphlets ; H. Lundius —" Tegner och hans Samtida," by Kahl, and five volumes of J. 0. Wallin's works (Swedish) ; also miscellaneous publications by H. Holland, W. Quinnell, J. Kebbell, Rev. H. J. Fletcher, J. Kenderdine, D. Jenness, Covenant Publishing Co. (Melbourne), H. Baillie, Waikato Valley Jubilee Committee, and Miss 0. Turton ; to all of whom the thanks of the Department are due. Special attention should be drawn to the very valuable donation by Mrs. Walter G. Mantell, of Wellington. The donation, comprising nearly nine hundred volumes, includes volumes collected by three generations —Gideon Mantell, the noted English geologist; his son, W. B. D. Mantell, well known as a Commissioner of Native Land Claims, politician and Government official; and the latter's son, Walter G. Mantell, whose widow makes the donation. The books include many manuscript volumes of Gideon Mantell as well as his printed works, and first editions of the writings of many of the Victorian literary men with whom W. B. D. Mantell was personally acquainted and with whom he evidently lived on most friendly terms. There are autograph copies of many notable works, such as Byron's " Childe Harold," first editions of Carlyle's works and others. There is a fifth folio Shakespeare, 1685, and five Ben Jonson quartos, all rare and valuable ; a small early illuminated missal; and a Keats relic in the shape of a Bailey's Dictionary, presented to him by his university friend B. Bailey. The manuscript correspondence is of amazing wealth, and no such collection has come to a New Zealand library before, the letter-writers including, among scientists, Sir Charles Lyell (over two hundred letters), Professor Silliman (over two hundred letters), Charles Darwin, Huxley, Sir Richard Owen, Robert Bakewell, W. H. Fitton, Sir M. Faraday, Agassiz, Sir Joseph Hooker, and many others ; among literary men —Carlyle, Shelley, Bulwer Lytton, Mrs. Browning ; also letters from Hugh Carleton, Sir George Grey, F. D. Fenton, Sir R. Peel, Mrs. Percy Bysshe Shelley, Lady Shelley, and many others.

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A booklet is in preparation, which will include a list of the books and letters, and this will be submitted for publication as a library bulletin. In it full information will be given concerning the various notable items, and the great value of this donation will then be realized. Another valuable donation is that of the Swedenborg Society. That society, at an expenditure of many thousands of pounds, has had photographic facsimiles made of the whole of Swedenborg's works, published and unpublished. The result is eighteen great folio volumes, bound in parchment. A number of sets were printed, and these have been distributed through the world, one set coming to New Zealand —the set now in the library. Library Conference. —A conference of librarians, at which the Librarian of the Alexander Turnbull Library attended, was held in Christchurch from the Bth to 10th February, 1928, when matters concerning the general working of public libraries were discussed. Readers and Students. —Forty-four new readers' permits were issued during the year, and students have been working in the library regularly through the year, day and evening. The principal subjects studied were Pacific problems, education, influence of missions in New Zealand, New Zealand railways, gold-mining in New Zealand, biographies of various statesmen, histories of particular districts, &c. The Folk-lore Section, the classics and English literature, including drama and poetry, have also been much used. Visits were paid to the library by classes from public primary and secondary schools, and Kelburn Training College. Visitors. —There were about seven hundred visitors during the year, in addition to the classes from various schools, primary and secondary. Bulletins. —There are still inquiries for Bulletin 1, "List of One Hundred Representative New Zealand Books " ; and of Bulletin 2 another 150 were sold during the year by the Government Printer, making 475 to date, which has more than paid for cost of printing it. Bulletin 3 (McCrae manuscripts of a visit to New Zealand in 1820) has been prepared and will be printed during the year, and Bulletin 4, dealing with the Mantell Collection, is in preparation. Correspondence. —Many inquiries have been received regarding books and pictures and their values, historical subjects, &c., inward and outward communications amounting to upwards of 2,200. Pictures and Drawings.—From three to four hundred jrictures and drawings have been mounted and put in Solander cases during the year, and there are many still to attend to ; all these require cabinets for their proper housing and so that they may be readily accessible. Census and Statistic Office. The routine work has been kept well up to date, in spite of the huge volume of work involved in the extraction of statistics of the population census of 1926. In addition it has been found possible for several new branches of statistical inquiry to be inaugurated. Banking Statistics. —Probably the most noteworthy achievement of the year is the successful initiation of weekly statistics of banking. Hitherto New Zealand has been sadly deficient in regard to statistics of banks of issue, the only information available being that contained in the quarterly statements of assets and liabilities supplied to the Minister of Finance and published in the New Zealand Gazette. Past efforts to bring New Zealand into line with other countries in this respect proved abortive, but the co-operation of the banks has now been obtained towards the collection and monthly publication of weekly returns covering debits, clearings, advances, deposits, metal reserves, legal-tender notes, and discount and overdraft rates. Private Assignments. —For many years past, statistics of bankruptcies under the Bankruptcy Act have been regularly collected and published. While valuable in themselves, these have not indicated the full extent of insolvency in the Dominion from year to year, on account of there being no record of private assignments. This defect has now been remedied by the making of regulations requiring persons administering estates assigned privately to furnish the necessary statistical returns. Motor-transport Statistics. —An entirely new activity in the statistical field is represented by the initiation in November, 1927, of statistics of motor transport. Regulations were made under the Census and Statistics Act requiring returns to be furnished by proprietors of omnibus services and of more or less regular motor-transport services operating over country roads. Particulars of mileage are also required in respect of cars used for commercial purposes in connection with the owner's own business where such use involves regular trips of ten miles or over from the home town. The first collection of statistics under the Motor Transport Regulations was made for the month of November, 1927, the results being published in the Monthly Abstract of Statistics for January, 1928. For the distribution and collection of the forms the services of Deputy Registrars of Motorvehicles were utilized. Accident Insurance.--When the direct collection of statistics of accident insurance was undertaken by the Census and Statistics Office in 1926, a distinction was provided for in the statement of premiums and claims as between workers' compensation and other forms of accident insurance. By regulations made under the Census and Statistics Act in 1927, separate figures are for the future to be shown also for (1) personal accident and sickness insurance, (2) motor-vehicle insurance, and (3) motor-omnibus insurance (risks under Motor-omnibus Licensing Regulations). Still-births. —The phenomenon that while the infant-mortality rate is decreasing the still-birth rate is increasing has drawn attention to the fact that these two matters are closely identified with one another, and are very largely parts of the same problem. A study of the cause of death of infants during past years shows that the whole of the improvement in our infant-mortality rates has been effected by the elimination and prevention of deaths from causes which attack the infant after birth, and that deaths (mainly neo-natal) from causes which originate before birth have been little affected. If anything, like still-births (from which they only differ in point of time of death), they

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have shown a tendency to increase. Further improvement in the infant-death rate is largely dependent on an understanding and study of these ante-natal causes which are responsible for still-births and the neo-natal deaths, and it is towards this end that steps are now being taken to obtain information as to cause of death of the foetus and the stage at which delivery occurred. It is hoped, with the assistance of the medical practitioners and the Registrar-General, to institute statistics which will throw light on this aspect of our infant mortality. Causes of Death. —New Zealand has for many years led the world in the completeness and accuracy of the official vital statistics. The accuracy of the statistics is, however, dependent on that of the data from which the statistics are compiled, and in one important respect —viz., certification of cause of death —it has for some time been felt that there is room for improvement. As a result of discussions between the Director-General of Health, the Government Statistician, and the Registrar-General, a scheme has now been put in operation towards this end, any incomplete or doubtfully worded certificates forming the subject of a direct query to the medical practitioner concerned. At the same time a booklet of instructions has been distributed to all medical practitioners on the register, and arrangements have been made with the Dean of the Otago Medical School for the booklet to be distributed each year to students of the Medical School, and for a lecture on certification to be included in the course. Dairying Statistics. —Special statistics relating to the size of dairy herds, in conjunction with such relevant matters as area of holding, area under crop, amount of top-dressing, number of employees, &c., were recently compiled, as part of a scheme to increase the statistical knowledge of the dairying industry. The mechanical equipment of the Office has also been utilized for the compilation, on behalf of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, of statistics relating to milk-yields of dairy cows according to breed, district, age, calving, and lactation period. In addition to the usual statistical tables covering the operations of butter and cheese factories, the Annual Statistical Report 011 Factory Production now contains special tables giving the fullest information concerning materials, products, costs, &e., for butter, cheese, and dual-plant factories separately. The value of these tables is enhanced by computations giving ratios, per unit costs, and returns, &c. Top-dressing. —An important innovation made during the year in the anunal collection of agricultural and pastoral statistics was the inclusion of information as to top-dressing among the numerous items of statistical inquiry. The class of fertilizer, the total quantity used, and the area top-dressed were obtained, the results being very informative and showing clearly the great extent to which top-dressing is now being resorted to. Potatoes. —Following the institution of a post-harvest verification of the yield of potatoes (many crops of which are not dug at the time of the sub-enumerator's visit), a demand was made for a pre-harvest verification of the area shown in the spring as planted or intended to be planted in potatoes. Such a check was carried out in December, 1927, and the results verified the spring collection to within a few acres. Factory Employees. —With a view to obtaining statistics showing the trend of employment in the various manufacturing industries, a section was inserted in the form of return of factory production providing for information being given as to the number of employees of either sex at the middle of each month of the year. Though not as valuable as statistics collected and tabulated from month to month, these figures will give excellent retrospective information showing seasonal movements in the various industries and indicating their progress. Trade Statistics. —An improvement made in the form of presentation of the detailed statistics of exports and imports will be welcomed by those having occasion to refer to the Annual Statistical Report on Trade and Shipping. By deleting certain detail matter of little value it has been found possible to include figures for individual items by full detail of countries for the last three years instead of for only the current year as hitherto. Conferences, dbc.—A conference of the Commonwealth and State Statisticians of Australia was convened for January, 1928, and was held at Hobart. In accordance with the usual policy on such occasions, an invitation for New Zealand to be represented was extended by the Premier of Tasmania, and Mr. Malcolm Fraser, Government Statistician, duly attended on behalf of the Dominion. Mr. Fraser also represented New Zealand at the Hobart Congress of the Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science, at which he read a paper on the subject of still-births and infant mortality. The Government Statistician has been appointed to the committee set up by the Right Hon. the Prime Minister to investigate transport problems. Mr. Fraser also represented the Department of Internal Affairs at the recent National Industrial Conference. Cinematograph-film Censorship. During the year, 2,333 films, of a total length of 5,813,840 ft., were censored. Of this number sixty-nine were rejected in the first instance, 245 were passed subject to excisions, and forty-four were passed for adult audiences only. There were two appeals against the decisions of the Censor in reference to censored films. In one case the Censor's view was reversed, and in the other case it was upheld. The total number of British Empire films examined was 585, including features, topicals, &c., and the total length was 716,670 ft. Feature films —viz., those over 4,000 ft. in length —totalled 628, while the remaining 1,705 films comprised topicals, scenics, serials, comedies, cartoons, industrials, &c., seldom exceeding 2,000 ft. each. Of the feature films, thirty-five were produced in the British Empire, 580 in the United States of America, and thirteen originated in Germany, France, Italy, and Sweden,

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Inland Fisheries. Hatchery Operations. —Extensive work was carried out during April and May in preparing the new hatchery on the Tongariro River near Tokaanu, hatchery operations being commenced on the 10th June and continued until the 17th November. The season's operations were highly satisfactory, a total of 4,036,000 rainbow trout-ova being collected from fish in various tributaries of the Tongariro River. The ova taken was of excellent quality, and fully proved the value of the Department's action in establishing the new hatchery to enable the progeny of the magnificent Taupo trout to be made available for other waters in New Zealand, which should result in a great improvement of the stock of all waters where they are liberated. Of the above total 1,400,000 eyed ova were sold to acclimatization societies throughout New Zealand ; 1,000,000 to the State Fisheries Department, New South Wales ; 75,000 to the Salmon and Fresh-water Fisheries Commissioners of Tasmania ; 1,185,000 were sent to the Department's hatchery at Rotorua, to be reared and disposed of as fry ; and 376,000 were hatched at the Tongariro hatchery. 36-5,000 fry were reared from the 376,000 ova hatched at the Tongariro hatchery, 25,000 being liberated in the waters of the Tongariro National Park, and 340,000 in Taupo district waters. In addition 100,000 eyed ova were recived from Lake Hawea (Otago Acclimatization Society), from which 80,000 fry were reared and liberated in Taupo district waters. At the Rotorua hatchery, 912,500 fry were reared from the eyed ova received from the Tongariro hatchery, 386,500 being liberated in Rotorua district waters and the remainder sold to acclimatization societies. Arrangements are being made for the complete renovation of the Rotorua Hatchery. Trout Food-supply.—A commencement was made on extensive operations for augmenting the food-supply in Lake Taupo by the liberation of small indigenous fishes. 426,000 fresh-water shrimps taken from the Waikato River near Mercer were liberated, and arrangements were made for other fishes to be taken at suitable seasons. It must be realized that no immediate result can be expected in such a large area of water, but it is hoped to be able to establish the fresh-water shrimp, which should in the future provide a valuable addition to the existing food-supply. Scientific Researches.—Operations in connection with the collection of data with regard to scale-reading, determining of condition factor, propagation of weed-beds, marking of fish, analysis of waters, &c., were inaugurated, and much valuable knowledge is expected to be derived therefrom. It is believed that as a result of scientific researches it will be possible to deal adequately with many matters that are, unfortunately, at present not properly understood, on account of the fact that there have not been adequate records kept of the various matters necessary for research purposes ; but, acting in conjunction with the expert advisers, records are being kept of all such matters. Destruction of Shags.—Owing to damage done to the fisheries by shags, the payment of royalty, at the rate of 2s. 6d. per head for shags killed in the Rotorua and Taupo districts, was continued, and a total of 748 shags were thus paid for. There has been a good deal of comment in various quarters as to whether the shag is quite as bad as he is painted, it being argued in some directions that he is possibly of assistance to fisheries ; but there would not appear to be much doubt that as far as the thermal district at all events is concerned he would not be missed if he was to be entirely exterminated, as, among other things, the bird is known to be the intermediate host of the wireworm. Prosecutions for Breaches of Regulations. —During the year a number of persons were detected committing breaches of the regulations governing fishing in the Taupo district, and eighteen prosecutions were conducted against sixteen offenders. In all cases convictions were recorded and fines totalling £84 were imposed. The policy of the Department has in the past been not to administer the regulations too harshly until a reasonable opportunity has been given to persons to become acquainted with the different provisions. It may, however, be necessary to tighten matters up in the future in connection with any breaches that may occur. Smoking Trout.—For the convenience of anglers, arrangements were made by the Department for trout to be smoked by Mr. Crowt.her at Taupo, and Mr. Asher at Tokaanu, at a standard price of 10s. per dozen, the service given in each case proving entirely satisfactory and available to all anglers wishing to thus make full use of their catches. Provisions of Tracks and Camp-sites— The convenience of anglers visiting the Taupo district was further provided for by the clearing of foot-tracks along the Waitahanui, Tauranga-Taupo, and Tongariro Rivers, and of motor access to the mouths of the Hatepe, Waipehi, and Tauranga-Taupo Rivers, and to Motutere Point. Camp-sites were also prepared at the Hatepe and Tauranga-Taupo Rivers. The access for anglers' motor-cars along the bank of the Tongariro River down-stream from the Taupo-Tokaanu Road was further improved by grading, and the provision of cattle-stops at all cross-fences. There have been some articles published in the newspapers which appear to indicate that little or nothing has been done for anglers ; but, as against that, those anglers who have been regular visitors to the locality in past years recognize that a very considerable amount of work has been accomplished, and in this connection it must be realized that the Department's operations only commenced at a comparatively recent date. Buildings, Wharves, Notices, &c. —The buildings used in connection with the Royal camp at Kowhai Flat were moved to the Tongariro Hatchery, where they have been taken into use. One framework was taken to Waipehi (half-way between Taupo and Tokaanu), where it has been completed as a, hut for the use of rangers and other departmental officers. The Department took over certain property at Whakaipo Bay, and the house thereon has been renovated, and was rented by anglers.' The Department has under consideration the erection of huts for anglers in other localities. Notices have been erected at suitable places calling the attention of anglers to the fact that in certain waters they are restricted to the use of certain lures ; and notices have been placed at the mouths of the Tongariro River warning anglers of the danger on the edge of the deep water.

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Taupo Landing Reserve. —Control of this property was vested in the Department, and regulations dealing with the reserve were gazetted. As provided for in these regulations, certain areas were set aside for camping-sites and others for business. sites. Many visitors availed themselves of the facilities for camping, and three business sites were leased. Leases were also arranged in respect of the various offices on the wharf. The Department intends to carry out a considerable amount of work in connection with this reserve, which it is believed will result not only in advantage and convenience to anglers and visitors, but also will be a considerable asset to the town. Among other activities it is intended to establish an Information Bureau, which will contain all up-to-date information not only regarding Taupo fisheries, but regarding other matters of interest to visiting anglers and others. In connection with the bureau it is intended to inaugurate, among other things, an anglers' bulletin, which, on the lines of a weather report, will give details regarding the fish caught, the weights of fish, the lures used, and various matters in regard to rivers and streams, &c. The Department, realizing that the reserve may be said to be the entrance to the lake, hopes to be able to make such entrance worthy of its surroundings, and is now having a survey made of the reserve with a view of determining the use to which various parts are to be put, allocating camp-sites, business sites, tree-planting reserves, &c. When this has been done it is proposed to have coloured maps prepared and placed in prominent positions, in order that all those concerned may see what.the eventual object is the Department aims at, it being hoped and believed that all concerned will assist in beautifying the reserve and helping the Department to attain its object. Registrar-General's Office. Births. —The total birth registrations were 29,450, a slight decrease on the previous year's figures. Included in this number are correcting and legitimation entries, registrations under section 27 (after adoption), and under section 24 (special provision for unregistered births). There were 439 adoptions recorded and 300 legitimations, necessitating in every case a new birth registration, and also 101 registrations under section 24. Maori births registered totalled-1,458. Deaths. —There were 11,647 death registrations (including correcting-entries). Maori death registrations numbered 917. Marriages.—lo,6ss marriage notices were received by Registrars on which certificates authorizing marriage were issued, and 10,559 marriages were solemnized. Of this number 2,049 (or about 20 per cent.) were solemnized by Registrars of Marriages. There were 467 dissolutions of marriage recorded, and 228 marriages of Maoris solemnized under the provisions of the Native Land Act. Officiating Ministers. —On the 31st December last there were 1,999 names on the list of officiating ministers authorized to solemnize marriage, of the following religious denominations : Church of England, 499 ; Presbyterian Church, 410 ; Roman Catholic Church, 306 ; Methodist Church, 271 ; Congregational Independents, 35 ; Baptists, 68 ; Church of Christ, 30 ; Salvation Army, 157 ; Ratana Church, 123 ; Ringatu Church, 45 ; other religious bodies, 99. Dentists. —Twenty-eight dentists were registered, and ten names removed on account of death. Of those registered the qualifications were—Bachelor of Dental Surgery, University of New Zealand, 10 ; and certificate of Proficiency in Dental Surgery, University of New Zealand, 9. Eight were registered under the special provisions of section 2 of the Dentists Amendment Act, 1926, and one under section 15 (2) of the Dentists Act, 1908. Searches and Certificates. —The total number of searches made and certificates issued in the Head Office increased from 31,719 in 1926 to 41,366 in 1927, the latter being made up as follows : for Pensions Department, 14,476 (including 9,257 in connection with family allowance claims), for National Provident Fund, 3,664 ; for Labour Department, 1,931 ; for Education Department, 953 ; other searches (for public), 11,019 ; certificates issued, 9,323. The District Offices in the main centres made over 2,000 searches for other Departments of the State. Revenue and Expenditure. —The revenue for the year 1927-28 amounted to £18,390 net, a slight increase on the revenue for the previous year. The expenditure was £17,781. Office of Chief Inspector of Explosives. Importation of Explosives. —Importation licenses for the following explosives were issued during the license year ending 30th June, 1927: Gelignite, 791,2501b.; blasting - gelatine, 48,8501b.; gelatine-dynamite, 25,500 lb.; A 2 Monobel, 365,0501b.; Samsonite No. 3, 253,450 lb. ; blasting-powder, 97,5001b.; sporting-powder, 11,7101b.; pellets, 116,2501b.; detonators, 2,100,000; E.D. fuses, 940,000 ; fireworks (packages), 2,386 ; other licenses were issued during the same period as follows (corresponding figures for the previous year being given in parentheses): Conveyance, 240 (271); storage, 371 (371) ; sales, 800 (672). Exuding Explosives. —During the year two shipments of Samsonite No. 3 received from Australia were found to be exuding heavily. The explosives were transferred to Auckland and reconditioned in a specially constructed workroom at the Maraetai Magazine. The condition of explosives examined has otherwise been good. Explosions in Domestic Grates. —An epidemic of this class of explosion occurred during the year, about twenty cases being reported within a period of three months. Inquiries showed that a number of the explosions were of a minor type, but a proportion were of sufficient violence to indicate the presence of explosives in the coal. An inspection was therefore made at the principal mines with particular reference to the method of handling detonators. It was found that a certain amount of laxity existed in several mines, and regulations were subsequently made under the Coal-mines Act

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controlling the issue of detonators. Experiments were also made with the stone occurring with the coal, and it was demonstrated that minor explosions of the type recorded in many cases could be obtained with the stone found. Dangerous Goods. —As forecast in last year's annual report, new regulations were prepared during the year. These were submitted in draft form to local authorities and to the trade, and after a number of conferences had been held with the various interests involved the amended regulations were gazetted on the 27th March, 1928. All regulations previously in force were repealed. The new regulations provide fairly definite control for most of the operations of distribution and storage of petroleum. Notable amendments made are as follows : — (1) Marking : The regulations regarding marking have been amended to provide for the use of a label of the same shape and wording as hitherto prescribed, but providing for a red lettering on a white ground instead of black on red. This was done in order to facilitate the stencilling of the label on the woodwork of the cases. (2) Conveyance : The regulations control the transport of petrol in tank wagons and delivery into underground tanks. Standard specifications are provided for tank wagons. Provision is made to prevent the accumulation of petrol on wharves daring discharge from ship. (3) Storage otherwise than in bulk : Provision is made that where petrol is stored in drums the full liquid contents stored in the depot shall be enclosed by a " well." Provision is also made permitting storage in drums in an earthern compound under conditions practically identical with those prescribed for storage in above-ground tanks. (4) Underground tanks : A number of amendments have been made in these regulations in consequence of the experience obtained during the past two years. (5) Pumps for petroleum spirit: Provision is made for all petrol-pumps to be approved by the Chief Inspector. Notification of such approval is to be published in the Gazette. The regulations also control the situation of petrol-pumps, and prohibit the installation of a battery of pumps inside a building unless the petrol-service area is separated from the remainder of the building by fire-resisting partition. Provision is made for the installation of fire-extinguishers in the vicinity of every pump, and for the prohibition of smoking and the running of the engine while motor-car tanks are being filled. (6) Storage of fuel oil : The use of fuel oil for heating services is steadily increasing, and the new regulations include provisions covering the installation and operation of fuel-oil plants. (7) Use of dangerous goods for dry-cleaning, &c.: Provisions are made governing the conditions permissible in premises where petroleum spirit and similar liquids are exposed for dry-cleaning and manufacturing work. (8) Accidents : The previous regulations contained a provision that accidents in the storage, transport, and use of dangerous goods should be notified to the Inspector for the licensing authority. This regulation was not complied with to any considerable extent, and very little information was obtained regarding these accidents. The new regulations contain a provision that the report regarding accidents must be forwarded to the Chief Inspector. (9) Containers for dangerous goods : Provision is made in the new regulations that all containers used for the transport and storage of dangerous goods shall be of a type approved by the Chief Inspector—such approval to be notified in the Gazette. Under this regulation it is not proposed to approve containers of less strength than those specified by the British and American railway authorities. Provision is also made controlling the sale, storage, and repair of empty containers. Petrol in Drums. —During the past year a considerable trade has developed in the importation and sale of petrol in 45-gallon drums. A fair proportion of these drums were of a light steel type weighing about 50 lb. and known in America as the " single-trip " drum. A considerable amount of leakage was found in these containers, particularly on second handling. The practice of the companies concerned was to sell the drum with contents, and the accidents with drums referred to below indicate that there is considerable danger in the broadcasting of drums to persons who are not aware of the possible explosion hazard due to the gaseous mixture left in the drum after emptying. Local Authority Administration.—Three new licensing authorities commenced the administration of the Act during the past year —Howick, Hikurangi, and Kaitaia. In consequence of the issue of new regulations it was necessary to have amended by-laws made, and notice was issued requiring all licensing authorities to make new by-laws. A draft of a suitable by-law was submitted for consideration by the authorities concerned, and the provisions of clause 15 of the Act were used to make the by-laws for practically all licensing authorities by Order in Council. These by-laws were gazetted with the regulations on the 27th March, 1928. With a few minor exceptions the administration by local authorities during the year has been satisfactory. Departmental Administration. —The Department administers the Act in all districts other than those controlled by local authorities. During the year 1,397 licenses were issued, as compared with 1,161 during the previous year.

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Inspection. —Practically all boroughs and town districts where the Act is administered by the local authority were inspected at least once. A considerable amount of additional inspection was carried out in country districts, and this work is reflected in the additional number of licenses issued. (Special inspections were also made in connection with the bulk installations being erected by the oil companies. Cinematograph Film. —Considerable progress has been made during the year in the administration of the Dangerous Goods (Cinematograph-film) Regulations. A special effort was made to get in touch with the occupiers of the country theatres, and as a result projection-rooms of reasonably satisfactory construction have been erected in the great majority of country halls in which film is screened. The experiments made by the Department, and the result of fires which have occurred from time to time in the screening of film, indicate that a projection-room lined with flat galvanized iron, with the sheets overlapping so as to form an unbroken surface, is adequate to confine the class of fire usually experienced in screening of film, and that, save under exceptional circumstances, the fire will not involve the rest of the building. This type of projection-room has been adopted as a minimum for country theatres, and the majority of the showmen concerned have now realized that a projection-room of this class is not expensive to erect, and is not only a safeguard to the building and the audience, but is much more convenient than screening in the body of the hall, and makes it possible for them to provide a better entertainment. A number of applications have been made for use of portable projection-rooms by persons engaged in screening film on circuit. Experience has shown that this class of projection-room is not satisfactory when placed inside a building, but approval has been given for the use of a portable room which is erected as required 011 a platform permanently attached to the outside of the hall. Screening is carried on through a window or a port cut in the wall. In addition to the work in connection with country theatres, arrangements have been made for the reconstruction of projection-rooms in a number of the urban theatres. The increase of the work generally is illustrated by the fact that 516 licenses were issued, as compared with 326 for the previous y ear - Prosecutions.—Five prosecutions under the Dangerous Goods (Cinematograph film) Regulations, 1925, were taken during the year —four for screening cinematograph film in unlicensed halls, and one for failure to comply with an Inspector's report to repair a cinematograph-machine. Fines from £2 to £18 were inflicted. In addition a number of prosecutions were taken by licensing authorities for illegal storage of petrol —some of these at the instance of the departmental Inspectors. Accidents with Dangerous Goods. —Two fatal accidents occurred with dangerous goods during the year. In both cases they were caused through the ignition of partly filled tins, and in each 'case the gas-mixture in the tin exploded and spread the liquid contents over the person holding it. Details are as follows : — At Wellington an employee engaged in testing butter for moisture was filling a spirit-lamp with methylated spirit when the latter ignited, either from another lamp on the same bench or from the wick of lamp being filled. The flame flashed back into the tin and the gas exploded, throwing the burning liquid over the two men employed in the room. The man holding the tin was so badly burned that he died next day. At Christchurch some boys found a tin containing a small quantity of petrol amongst some rubbish left by a previous occupier of the house. They held a match over the opening of the tin, and the explosion and fire which followed resulted in the death of one of the boys. Another fatal accident, which occurred at Christchurch in December, 1026, is worthy of record as illustrating the danger of home dry cleaning with petrol. Two young women were engaged in cleaning clothes in a petrol bath in the kitchen, and one of them lit a match to light a gas-iron. This caused a slight explosion, followed by fire. Both women were badly burned, and one of them succumbed to her injuries. Drums. —Two accidents were recorded during the year with 40-gallon drums, both of which emphasize the necessity for care in handling these containers when empty. At Auckland a man was engaged in welding a drum which had contained methylated spirit. The drum exploded, and the man was seriously injured. The drum had not been cleared from vapour before the welding was commenced. At Westport an empty drum was obtained and water run through it for two days in an attempt to clear out the petrol. The drum was then emptied, and at the time of the accident a youth was sitting on it. He lit a match to light a cigarette, and in doing so passed the lighted match over the opening of the drum, when a severe explosion occurred. The youth was badly injured, and is still in hospital. Accidents in filling Underground Tanks. —Three accidents in filling underground tanks were recorded during the year. All occurred with tanks situated beneath buildings, and were due to the cap of the drip pipe being left off during the filling, with the consequent escape of vapour into the building. In two cases explosions occurred of sufficient force to blow out windows and doors and cause minor structural damage. Accidents with Petrol-pumps. —Only one accident occurred during the year which may be ascribed to the operation of a petrol-pump. In this case the pump was of a motor-driven type which had not been approved by the Department. The bowl was overfilled, and the petrol flowed down the outside of the pump. An ignition occurred, probably owing to a defect in the electric motor or wiring. The contents of the bowl were discharged and burned on the ground. The accident fortunately happened in an open service station, and no damage was done except to the pump which caused the accident and an adjoining pump. A number of fires have occurred during the year in buildings under which petrol tanks were situated, but in no case was the petrol in any tank affected.

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Accidents infilling Tanks of Motor-car s. —A number of fires of this class were recorded. The cause of these fires may be roughly classified as follows : (a) The overflowing of fuel-tanks during filling with subsequent ignition due either to electric spark on restarting the engine, or to back-fire or other cause connected with the exhaust; (b) the filling of fuel-tanks, particularly of motor-cycles, with acetylene-lamps lighted ; (c) the filling of fuel-tanks with the engine of the car running ; (d) smoking while tanks were being filled (in one case a lighted cigarette was dropped on to the top of a tank on which a little petrol had been spilled); (e) examining open fuel-tank with a lighted match to estimate contents; (/) ignition from cause not directly ascertainable, but from the circumstances probably due to static electricity. Only two accidents were reported involving serious injury to persons, and both these occurred in filling of fuel-tanks from pumps situated inside buildings. The circumstances were similar in both cases —the hose containing petrol being removed from the burning tank and the burning petrol scattered over the persons in the vicinity. Most of the accidents reported occurred in connection with kerb-sicle pumps or in open service stations, and no structural damage resulted. In only one case of an accident inside a building was the damage in any way serious, and it is worthy of record that a one-quart tetrachloride chemical extinguisher was sufficient to extinguish the fire in every case where it was used. Accidents with Cinematograph Film. —The number of fires (10) which occurred in the screening of cinematograph film during the year shows a considerable decrease as compared with previous years, and a decrease is also shown in the quantity of film involved in individual fires. With the exception of one which occurred in rewinding, all the fires were caused by stoppage of film in the gate of the machine. In two cases no damage was done other than to a small quantity of film bunched outside the spool-magazines owing to the stoppage, and in two cases the spool-magazine door was open and the fire involved a full spool. Defective fire-traps 011 the spool-magazine permitted the fire to carry through in two cases, and in one instance fire communicated to a spool of film on the floor of the projecting-room. In another case the programme-container was accidentally overturned while the operator was attempting to extinguish the fire at the film-gate, and the whole programme was destroyed. It is satisfactory to record that, , except in one case where 110 projection-room had been erected and the fire destroyed the hall, the type of projecting-room which has been erected in accordance with the regulations was adequate to prevent the spread of fire to the theatre building, and only minor damage was done. It must also be noted that in most of the fires chemical fire-extinguishers were used with satisfactory retardant results. Publicity Office. The policy of the Office in the past has been to advance carefully along clearly defined lines, with a constant improvement in the quality of the output of all classes of advertising-material, and this policy has been carried out during the past year. it is still contended that the film supplies the best preliminary advertising medium of scenic and sporting attractions, reaching as it does vast numbers of people throughout the whole world, and efforts are being made to increase the interest of the films, and eventually their commercial value. Weekly releases have been continued in Australia, England, and New Zealand, with periodical releases in America and the East. Several cases have come to -the direct notice of the Office where parties of visitors have come to our shores as a direct result of the films seen in Australian theatres. Arrangements are now in train for the building of a feature picture for release in Australia and Great Britain similar to that shown two or three years ago throughout New Zealand. A contract has been let for the printing and developing of film for a five-years period, and as a result of this contract a most up-to-date laboratory is now in course of erection at Miramar. In order to assist in the improving of our films, the contractor has erected a very fine studio in connection with the laboratory, in which interior scenes will be taken where necessary to add interest to the pictures. The daily screenings of films for the benefit of visitors have been well attended and have proved quite popular. Arrangements were made during the year to have New Zealand films shown on the boats of various companies trading to Australia and New Zealand, and also across the Atlantic. Photographic Branch.—The Department was unfortunate in losing the services of its still photographer, and the vacancy has not yet been filled. The activities of this branch were much the same as in previous years, and steady improvement in colour work is being maintained, as it is realized that the coloured photographs will attract attention and be more compelling than the ordinary black-and-white variety. Enlargements were distributed through various parts of the world amongst the places calculated to give the best results to the Dominion. Small albums of photographs were given to various visiting sporting teams and to New-Zealanders going abroad. New pictures were secured of most of the principal parts of the Dominion, including a very fine set of photographs depicting the Maoris at their various ceremonies and occupations. Publications. —In view of the need for economy during the year, several new publications were held over until the following year, and at the close of the year under review there were no less than twelve new publications under way. A new means of distribution of one of the best booklets was tried out and proved an undoubted success. Business houses were asked to submit names and addresses of clients and principals overseas and to these a copy of the publication " Paradise of the Pacific " was sent. From the hundreds of appreciative replies received it is evident that the book was well received. On the recommendation of numerous visitors to the United States and of the Government Agent at San Francisco, the service of an American information service was engaged for

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the distribution of publicity booklets and photographs, the making of window displays, and travelmagazine advertisements. From the increasing demand for information relative to New Zealand it appears that the small expenditure in this connection is justified. The Office is again indebted to the agents of the Canadian Pacific Railways, the Canadian National Railways, the Union Steamship Co., and Messrs. Thomas Cook and Son, and other companies, which have so willingly assisted in the distribution of our advertising-material. Exhibitions. —New Zealand has been represented only at small exhibitions on the Pacific coast, and these have been arranged by the local agents. London Publicity Representative. —Reports from London indicate that there is increasing interest in New Zealand as a tourist and sporting resort, undoubtedly brought about by the continuous advertising campaign being made in Great Britain. New Zealand films are being shown daily throughout the theatres and various institutions, and other advertising means adopted include shop displays, window displays, exhibitions, lectures, magazine advertisements, &c. A feature of the advertising in Great Britain has always been through the school-children, and this policy is being continued ; this is especially effective for advertising our products. General.—lt is realized that the biggest number of visitors to our shores must necessarily come, in the meantime, from Australia, and it was decided that an intensive campaign be launched in Australia during the coming year. In this connection a conference of departmental officers concerned was called by the Right Hon. the Prime Minister to meet and discuss the matter with Mr. Manson, the New Zealand representative in Melbourne, and as a result of this conference various decisions were arrived at and recommendations made, which are now before the Government. It was also decided that the Publicity Officer should visit the Commonwealth with a view to obtaining first-hand knowledge of the requirements there. The Publicity Board held frequent meetings during the year, at which a great variety of matters was discussed. Distinguished Visitors. The Department has again had the privilege of being associated with a number of distinguished visitors, and of carrying out the arrangements necessary during their stay in the Dominion. Special reference must be made to the visit of the Right Hon. L. M. S. Amery, Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs, and Mrs. Amery. The French war sloop " Cassiope " also paid a visit to the Dominion in March, and hospitality was extended to the captain, his officers and men. As in past years, the assistance rendered by various organizations, local bodies, private individuals, and Government Departments is appreciated. Conclusion. As in previous years, I am pleased to place on record my appreciation of the willing and loyal services by my departmental officers, and of the spirit of co-operation in all sections of the Department. The help rendered by other Government Departments is also appreciated, as this has added in no small measure to the smooth working of the various activities undertaken. In view of my early retirement from the Public Service, I desire to express my thanks to the various Ministers of the Crown under whom I have served for their kindly consideration during the period I have had the privilege of being the Head of the Department, and to extend my remarks in regard to the assistance of the various Government Departments and my officers to that time.

Approximate Cost of Paper.—Preparation, not given; printing (500 copies), £12.

Authority : W. A. G. Skinner, Government Printer, Wellington.—3o2B,

Price 6d.\

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