8.—6.

XVIII

Beekeeping is now an important minor industry. 8,426 persons are keeping bees, with a total of 85,861 hives. All honey for export is graded by Government officers, and certificates of quality are issued. During 1921-22 the area estimated as sown in wheat is 363,000 acres, an increase of 140,157 acres over the area actually sown during the previous year. The estimated area sown m oats during 1921-22 is 470,000 acres, a decrease of 104,729 acres as compared with the actual area sown during the previous year. The estimated average yield per acre for 1921-22 is 29-32 bushels for wheat and 40-68 for oats, as against an actual yield in the previous year of 31-24 bushels for wheat and 35-41 for oats. It is pleasing to observe from a report of the British Seed-testing Station, that New Zealand rye, cow-grass, and white clover were ranked as the finest secured from any part of the world. The revenue of the Department for the year 1921-22 was as follows :— Under the vote : — 1. Sales of stock and produce from experimental farms and areas, also horticultural £ and poultry stations .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 27,461 2. Quarantine stations : Sustenance fees, &c, for imported live-stock . . .. 1,198 3. Sales of poison for destruction of rabbits .. .. . . .. .. 10,648 4. Destroying rabbits on Crown and private lands .. .. .. .. 1,888 5. Fees for semi-official testing of pure-bred dairy cows and cow-testing associations .. 5,813 6. Services of Dairy Instructors .. .. .. .. .. .. 3,192 7. Dairy-produce grading fees .. .. .. .. .. .. 12,863 8. Sales of Journal of Agriculture and photographic material .. .. .. 2,212 9. Fees for testing of seeds .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 605 10. Fees for fumigation and destruction of diseased fruit .. .. .. 196 11. Miscellaneous .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 10,133 76,209 Under Acts administered by the Department:— 12. Slaughtering and Inspection Act: Meat and inspection fees .. .. .. 26,222 ]3. Dairy Industry Act: Dairy registration fees .. .. .. .. 2,890 14. Orchard and Garden Diseases Act: Nursery registration fees .. .. 533 15. Stock Act: Brand registration and other fees .. .. .. .. 4,580 Total .. .. .. .. .. .. £110,434 The total expenditure of the Department was £275,176, as compared with £192,838 (including Industries and Commerce) for 1913-14. Economies effected during 1921-22 amounted to £18,733, and the total annual savings from economies in course of introduction are estimated at £22,756. Nauru and Ocean Island Phosphate. In order to ensure satisfactory supplies of phosphate rock for manurial purposes the interests of the Pacific Phosphate Company in Nauru and Ocean Islands were purchased by the British, Australian, and New Zealand Governments as from the Ist July, 1920, the • price being £3,500,000. New Zealand's share is .16 per cent., the balance of the capital being held in equal shares by the other Governments concerned. The business is controlled by the British Phosphate Commission, consisting of a Commissioner for each of the three Governments. The Governments are entitled to imports of phosphate rock in proportion to their capital interest, but when their requirements are satisfied the surplus may be placed on other markets. The production and sale are controlled by the Commis sion, but New Zealand imports are controlled by this Government. Orders are obtained from New Zealand purchasers of phosphate through an agent representing the Government, which purchases f.0.b., arranges transport, and collects through its agents the c.i.f.e. price. The Commission is required to sell at a price that will give a return of 6 per cent, on the capital invested and establish a sinking fund for the redemption of the principal. Owing to the need for providing working capital out of revenue a portion of the interest charge was allowed to stand over, but future payments are expected in full. The Dominion's control of local imports is arranged on a basis closely approximating cost, with a view to the supply of our primary industries with fertilizers at as low a price as possible. During the year 35,093 tons of phosphate rock were landed in New Zealand. The first cargo was