H.—44.

Expokts. For the twelve months ended the 31st December, 1934, there was an increase in exports of timber of 8,700,875 superficial feet and of £83,024 in value in comparison with the figures for the previous year. The relative figures for the two periods are shown in the table which follows : —

Imports. The following table shows, in thousands of superficial feet, the quantities of imported timber that dirêctly compete with New Zealand native timbers : —

THE FISHING INDUSTRY. The New Zealand fishing industry is accountable at the present time for the employment of 3,147 fishermen. To this number must be added all persons engaged in the distribution side of the industry. The value of the catch of salt-water fish for twelve months ended 31st March, 1934, was conservatively estimated at £333,000. With a right perspective of the possibilities of this industry, there is no reason why by the adoption of improved marketing facilities, particularly in regard to refrigeration methods and preparation for the market, the figure should not extend to the half-million mark within the next few years. Extensive inquiries have been made into the possibility of extending the present fish-export trade to Australia, and the Department is convinced that the exporting section of the industry has not fully appreciated the potential market Australia offers for New Zealand fish, which is generally acknowledged as being of a finer flavour than the fish procurable from Australian waters. At its first meeting the Development of Industries Committee focused its attention on the fishing industry as offering considerable scope for development by increasing very materially the sale of fish on the local market and extending the value of the present export trade. As a result of these deliberations a Fisheries Sub-committee, as previously mentioned under the section dealing with the Development of Industries Committee, was set up. At the outset this subcommittee considered that it was desirable to make a survey of the present position of the marketing of fish before formulating proposals designed to place the industry generally on a better basis. The information sought by the sub-committee in the first instance is briefly set out as follows : — (1) Source of supplies, cool-storage accommodation available, methods of refrigeration, charges for storage, &c. (2) Local Market : Supply varieties, price spread between amount paid to fishermen and retail price paid by consumer. (3) Export Trade : Australia —present methods of marketing consignment or straight-out purchase, freight rates, refrigeration space available on vessels, frequency of shipping services, &c. (4) Compiling list of names and addresses of all exporters with a view to calling conferences in each centre to bring about co-operation and elimi ation of unnecessary and uneconomic price-cutting.

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1933. 1934. Sup. ft. Value. Sup. ft. Value. £(N.Z.) £(N.Z.) White-pine .. .. 19,532,960 I 181,031 22,791,352 213,287 Rinra .. .. 3,641,873 ] 24,560 7,150,514 51,472 Beech .. .. 1,375,374 ! 12,707 2,410,208 25.409 Kauri .. .. 410,875 10,658 679,240 18,486 Pinus insignis.. .. 691,763 7,115 712,205 5,618 Other kinds .. .. 176,559 1,432 786,760 6,255 Total .. 25,829,404 237,503 34,530,279 320,527

I . . 1930. 1931. 1932. 1933. 1934. (1,000 ft.) I (1,000 ft-.) (1,000 ft.) (1,000 ft.) (1,000 ft.) Cedar .. .. 637 52 7 2 18 Oregon .. .. 12,807 j 2,950 1,081 1,354 3,128 Hemlock .. 6,142 662 Redwood.. .. 9,345 1,028 291 461 751 Butter-box shooks.. 4,691 2,879 1,473 1,815 848 Cheese-crate shooks 1,774 732 175 5 Total .. 35,396 8,303 3,027 3,637 4,745