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Comparative Statement of Receipts and Payments for the Four Years ended 31st March, 1922, 1923, 1924, and 1925.

The summarized result is that payments have decreased from £151,695 in 1921-22 to £119,463 in 1924-25, whilst receipts have increased from £73,696 in 1921-22 to £124,876 in 1924-25. Thus by reduction of payments amounting in the period to £32,232 and an increase of £51,180 in the receipts the Department has improved its position to the extent of £83,412 in four years. Westport Harbour Accounts. In 1920-21 the Westport Harbour Board having become so unfmancial and in the position of having to be supported by Treasury advances from the Consolidated Fund, the whole of the Board's affairs were taken over by the Marine Department. An adjustment of responsibilities and functions was made as be twee n the Marine Department and the Railway Department, with corresponding adjustment of liability for capital expenditure and its charges. The -financial position of the Harbour Account made it essential to review every avenue of expenditure and every source of revenue to deal drastically with the former and exploit the latter. The full loss in the last year of the Board's operations having regard to interest, sinking fund, and depreciation charges amounted to approximately £50,000. The obligation was placed upon the Department to endeavour to square the account.

Payments. 1921-22. 1922-23. 1923-24. 1924-25. £ £ £ £ Head Office * 9,169 8,433 9,378 Harbours .. .. .. .. .. 5,194 4,216 6,279 3,911 Lighthouses .. .. .. .. .. 37,085 27,734 25,503 26,018 Meteorological Office .. .. .. .. 3,909 5,314 5,671 6,009 Mercantile marine .. .. .. .. 12,632 11,901 13,422 14,262 Inspector of machinery .. .. .. .. 27,492 25,279 24,821 24,714 Fisheries .. .. .. 13,784 10,456 10,792 12,539 Government steamers .. .. .. .. 34,184 19,675 21,155 19,956 Miscellaneous services .. .. .. .. 17,415 3,460 1,573 2,676 Totals .. .. .. .. 151,695 117,204 117,649 119,463 Receipts. — 1921-22. 1922-23. 1923-24. 1924-25. Shipping and Seamen Act — £ £ £ £ Engagements, discharges, &c. .. .. .. 3,968 4,108 4,027 4,155 Survey fees .. .. .. .. .. 3,354 3,202 4,666 5,027 Measurement of ships .. .. .. .. j 25 17 22 22 Examination fees .. .. .. .. 586 396 370 417 Light dues .. .. .. .. .. 41,311 39,689 76,868 80,469 Fines, forfeitures, and sundry receipts .. .. 1,051 1,271 1,309 1,152 Harbours Act — Pilotage, port charges, &c. .. .. .. 648 765 769 843 Foreshore rents, &c. .. .. .. .. 1,175 1,131 2,904 4,579 Fisheries Act — Sale of oysters .. .. .. .. 7,763 7,702 7,356 8,395 Sundry receipts .. .. .. .. 324 324 926 667 Inspection of Machinery Act — Inspection of boilers, &c. .. .. .. 13,102 17,300 16,568 18,417 Examination fees .. .. .. .. 602 618 635 649 Tramways Act— Examination fees .. .. .. .. 57 49 104 84 Totals .. .. .. .. 73,696 76,572 116,524 124,876 * It was formerly the practice to include Head Office expenditure under miscellaneous services.