C.—l2.

1936. NEW ZEALAND.

KAURI-GUM INDUSTRY (REPORT ON THE) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1936.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly pursuant to Section 5 of the Kauri-gum Industry Amendment Act, 1914.

S IR Department of Lands and Survey, Wellington, Ist July, 1936. I have the honour to submit herewith the annual report under the Kauri-gum Industry Amendment Act, 1914, for the year ended 31st March, 1936. I have, &c., W. Robertson, Under-Secretary. The Hon. Frank Langstone, Minister of Lands. Stagnant conditions have again prevailed during the year in the market. No demand whatever exists for the varnish grades and, indeed, remaining stocks of these are so small that it would be very difficult to fill any considerable order. No definite results have yet been obtained from research in connection with solvent processes of purification. Synthetic resins have, however, obtained a very strong hold in the varnish and lacquer industries, and even if a satisfactory gum can be produced considerable difficulty will be experienced in regaining any appreciable portion of this market. There is still a fairly consistent demand for the linoleum grades at prices about on a par with those pasting in the previous year. As hitherto, Great Britain imports the vast majority of this gum, although in recent months a few increased orders have been noted from Montreal and New York. The continued excess of exports over production has reduced stocks of chip grades also to a low level. Export of Kauri-gum. For the year ended 31st March, 1936, the export amounted to 2,669 tons, of the value of £75,802, an average price of about £28 per ton. The tonnage, value, and average price per ton of the export for the past sixteen years are — _ , r , Average Year ended Tonnage Value. per Ton. 31st March. exported. £ £ 1921 6,1.31 524,701 85 1922 3,968 391,304 98 1923 6,080 520,409 85 1924 6,923 640,712 92 1925 5,432 446,019 82 1926 5,495 414,420 75 J 927 4,529 301,335 66 1928 4,531 267,559 59 1929 4,566 241,223 53 1930 4,941 264,452 53 1931 3,145 155,602 49 1932 3,164 124,757 39 1933 2,060 57,970 28 1934 3,378 83,945 25 1935 3,412 91,070 27 1936 2,669 75,802 28