A.-3

8

The; following cash statement takes into account the amounts duo to and owing by the Administration as at the e!e>so of tin; financial year, and shows an estimated credit balance of £6,538 2s. 9d. Cash Statement as at 31st March, 1924. Assets. £ s. el. Liabilities. £ s. d' Cash in band .. .. .. 921 17 5 Sundry creditors .. •■ .. -181 2 2 ('ash in hank .. .. .. 151 5 9 Contingent losses-— £ s. el. Cash on deposit, Bank of New Zealand .. 1,090 0 o .Fruit-ease Account .. 39 010 Sundry debtors .. .. .. 2,354 10 I Kruit-ca.se Account, Mangaia, 381 5 9 Prooeeds of Customs due from New Zea- Fruit-case Account, Aitutaki 25 13 6 land, due 31st March, 1924 (estimated) 2,000 o o 443 0 I Stamp-sales, New Zealand (estimated) .. 300 0 o Sundry debtors estimated as bad debts .. 21 17 3 High Court fees outstanding .. .. 227 9 (i Cash balance .. .. •• 9,538 2 9 -Native Land Court Ices outstanding .. 831 19 9 £7,487 2 3 £7,487 2 3 Balance .. .. .. .. £9,538 2 9 The balance-sheet set out hereunder takes into account the; value, of all Administration assets throughout the; Group as at the: 31st, March, 1924, and all liabilities as per the casli statement, and shows an excess of assets amounting to £62,679 17s. iOel. Statement of Assets as at 31st March, 1924. Assets. £ s. d. Land and buildings .. .. .. .. .. 40,755 10 0 Waterworks .. . . .. .. .. .. 6,000 0 0 Furniture .. .. .. .. ... .. 6,01] 0 0 Plant, machinery, and type, Printing Office .. .. .. 450 0 0 Stocks— Drugs and instruments, hospital .. .. ... 454 0 0 Public Works Department .. .. .. .. 1,099 9 9 Printing Olliee.. .. .. .. .. .. 308 7 0 Freezer .. .. .. .. .. .. 185 18 7 Ammunition . . . . .. . . . . . . (> 8 (i Liquor . . . . . . . .■ . . , . 292 I (i Tools, &C, outer islands .. .. .. .. 04 0 0 Motor-vehicles .. .. .. .. .. 575 O 0 Cash as per cash statement .. .. .. .. 9,538 2 9 £92,979 17 10 Liabilities. Nil. Trade. f'eir the year ended 31st December, 1923, the; value of imports was £131,590, and of exports £11.8,710. For the. previous year the, figures wore -Imports, £116,726; exports, £135,802. During the year 138,857 cases of oranges, 70,206 cases of bananas, and 24,578 cases of tomatoes Were exported, and it is considered that with suitable, shipping facilities for the; coming year the export of these; fruits will be increased. The growers throughout the Group are pleascel with the new alternate cargo service to Auckland and Wellington, which gives them, the choice of markets, which they have boon asking for for some years ; but, on the other hand, they are apprehensive that, owing to the accelerated San Francisco mail-service, they may be; deprived of the shipping-space desired on the mail-steamers to Wellington. This is a most essential service, as it brings our fruit very quickly to what our growers consider their best market. Every effort should bo 'made to secure increased shipping facilities to e>ur best markets, in the hope that increased exports may so improve our financial position as to give us an opportunity of becoming more, self-supporting in the future. The; following is a summary of imports anel exports for 1923, together with a return for the; last nine, years : — Poet of Avarua. Return of Imports for the Year ended 31st December, 1923. £ £ New Zealand .. .. .. 93,756 I Canada .. .. .. .. 91 United States of America .. .. 23,139 Italy .. .. .. .. I United Kingdom .. .. .. 8,906 Suva, .. .. .. .. 5 Tahiti . . .. .. .. 1,579 South Africa .. .. .. 5 Australia .. .. .. .. 3,838 Samoa .. .. .. .. 80 France .. .. .. .. 126 Germany .. .. .. .. 58 £131,590