KAURI-GUM INDUSTRY (REPORT ON THE) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1931.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1931 Session I-II, C-12

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1931. NEW ZEALAND.

KAURI-GUM INDUSTRY (REPORT ON THE) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1931.

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

Department of Lands and Survey, S l k ; — Wellington, Ist July, 1931. I have the honour to submit herewith the annual report under the Kauri-gum Industry Amendment Act, 1914, for the year ended 31st March, 1931. I have, &c., W. Robertson, Under-Secretary. The Hon. E. A. Ransom, Minister of Lands.

Upon the setting-up of the Kauri-gum Control Board in 1927 the Department's active participation in the kauri-gum industry ceased. At that date there were large stocks of gum on hand, mostly accumulated as a result of the Department purchasing gum from distressed diggers during a trying period just prior to the setting-up of the Control Board, when some grades of gum were practically unsaleable. The stocks of gum were handed over to the Control Board for disposal as the market could absorb them without unduly interfering with current production. With the exception of a quantity of chip gradings which for the time being were unsaleable, all of the stocks of gum have been sold and delivery taken by the buyers. The chip gradings referred to were handed over to the Control Board for recleaning at its Penrose Gum-cleaning Works. As a result of the dullness experienced in the industry during the past year, part of the recleaned material could not be disposed of at a satisfactory figure, and is still held awaiting sale. The following tables give particulars of the export of kauri-gum from the Dominion for the years 1920-31, and of the quantities of gum received in Auckland from the gumfields during the past eight years : — Export op Kauri-gum. For the year ended 31st March, 1931, the export amounted to 3,145 tons, of the value of £155,602, an average price of about £49 per ton. The tonnage, value, and average price per ton of the export for the past twelve years are—• Year ended Tonnage Value Average. 31st March. exported. ' ' per Ton. £ £ 1920 4,726 310,614 66 1921 6,131 524,701 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 1927 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

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Details of the yearly export, and the country to which exported, from 1919 to 1931, are given below : —

Particulars of Kauri-gum exported from New Zealand from 1919 to 31st March, 1931, inclusive.

Production during the Year. • The kauri-gum received at Auckland from the gumfields for the past eight years is shown, month by month, in the following table : — Kauri-gum received in Auckland. 1923-24. 1924-25. 1925-26. 1926-27. 1927-28. 1928-29. 1929-30. 1930-31. Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. April.. .. 480 439 483 338 317 295 339 441 May .. .. 613 501 330 332 277 390 246 374 June .. .. 459 344 395 362 359 331 285 247 July .. .. 352 363 399 401 230 364 349 309 August .. 522 407 326 392 241 331 317 194 September .. 450 373 403 287 323 288 323 214 October .. 490 471 299 229 385 356 534 328 November .. 612 427 486 341 500 407 441 317 December .. 576 591 410 325 284 245 268 277 January .. 506 525 365 265 278 290 371 158 February .. 475 492 396 198 307 275 412 281 March .. 537 520 541 441 411 240 563 386 6,072 5,453 4,833 3,911 3,912 3,812 4,628 3,526

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Details of the yearly export, and the country to which exported, from 1919 to 1931, are given below : — Particulars of Kauri-gum exported from New Zealand from 1919 to 31st March, 1931, inclusive. Country to i 1st April, 1919, to i 1st April, 1920, to 1st April, 1921, to j 1st April, 1922, to 1st April, 1923, to 1st April, 1924, to which exported, j 31st March, 1920. | 31st March, 1921. 31st March, 1922. j 31st March, 1923. 31st March, 1924. 31st March, 1925. Tons. £ Tons. £ Tons. £ Tons. £ Tons. £ Tons. £ United States of 2,037 157,251 3,224 345,992 2,487 266,922 3,742 367,946 4,197 449,117 2,624 250,379 AmcncSi United Kingdom 1,650 90,422 2,544 149,422 1,297 104,094 1,960 129,082 2,409 170,785 2,360 169,975 Germany .. .. .. .. .. 58 3,574 70 3,363 66 2,832 117 6,367 Canada .. 1,016 61,005 314 24,481 89 9,641 109 7,462 118 7,714 97 5,726 Australia .. 23 1,936 49 4,802 37 7,073 84 6,679 7 787 24 2,006 Belgium .. .. .. . • .... .. .. .. .. .... France 55 5,855 79 5,121 Austria-Hungary .. .. .. .. Russia Netherlands .. .. .. .. .. .. 90 4,381 38 1,582 53 1,917 Sweden 20 1,000 .. .. 20 820 Italy .. 1 170 26 1,647 55 3,546 Japan .... .. .. 4 .. .. 4 326 7 393 3 162 Hong Kong Totals .. 4,726 310,614 6,131 524,701 3,968 391,304 6,080 520,409 6,923 640,712 5,432 446,019 Country to 1st April, 1925, to ! 1st April, 1926, to 1st April, 1927, to 1st April, 1928, to 1st April, 1929, to 1st April, 1930, to wbieli exported. 31st March, 1926. j 31st March, 1927, 31st March, 1928. 31st March, 1929. 31st March, 1930. 31st March, 1931. Tons. £ Tons. £ Tons. £ Tons. £ Tons. £ Tons. £ United States of 2,682 211,623 1,863 136,397 2,087 120,349 2,337 139,672 1,967 127,723 823 46,510 America United Kingdom 2,350 179,868 2,036 133,032 2,043 127,401 1,504 77,479 2,425 117,677 1,957 96,679 Germany .. 107 4,670 127 5,432 119 6,613 234 7,949 100 2,646 62 1,508 Canada' .. 101 3,569 144 7,181 165 6,329 209 7,448 202 7,169 127 4,726 Australia .. 9 1,198 15 911 33 1,448 8 408 106 3,908 37 1,423 Belgium .. 33 1,168 114 4,563 .. .. 60 1,094 30 635 43 975 France .. 135 9,136 89 6,980 60 3,915 150 5,206 89 3,764 71 2,701 Austria-Hungary Russia Netherlands .. 46 .1,809 34 1,950 3 483 29 .1,068 2 285 4 23.8 Sweden .. .. .. 46 1,929 I 132 .. .. .. .. 10 282 Italy .. .... 2 51 2,469 .. .. 10 127 .. Japan .. 22 1,027 10 ,476 20 84-3 26 772 20 645 11 580 Hong Kong Denmark .. 10 350 .. .. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • China .. .. . . .. .. 15 .. 25 South African .. .. .. . • • • 21 Union Totals .. 5,495 414,420 4,529 301,335 4,531 267,559 4,566 241,223 4,941 264,452 3,145 155,602 I I Production during the Year. • The kauri-gum received at Auckland from the gumfields for the past eight years is shown, month by month, in the following table :— Kauri-gum received in Auckland. 1923-24. 1924-25. 1925-26. 1926-27. 1927-28. 1928-29. 1929-30. 1930-31. Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. April.. .. 480 439 483 338 317 295 339 441 May .. .. 613 501 330 332 277 390 246 374 June .. .. 459 344 395 362 359 331 285 247 July .. .. 352 363 399 401 230 364 349 309 August .. 522 407 326 392 241 331 317 194 September .. 450 373 403 287 323 288 323 214 October .. 490 471 299 229 385 356 534 328 November .. 612 427 486 341 500 407 441 317 December .. 576 591 410 325 284 245 268 277 January .. 506 525 365 265 278 290 371 158 February .. 475 492 396 198 307 275 412 281 March .. 537 520 541 441 411 240 563 386 6,072 5,453 4,833 3,911 3,912 3,812 4,628 3,526

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KAURI-GUM INDUSTRY ACCOUNT. Trading Account for the Year ended 31st March, 1931. Dr. £ s. d. Gr. £ s. d. To Gum on hand, Ist April, 1930 .. .. 5,151 10 2 By Sales of gum .. .. .. .. 2,477 910 Gum on hand, 31st March, 1931 .. .. 2,648 10 6 Balance to Profit and Loss Account.. .. 25 9 10 £5,151 10 2 £5,151 10 2 Profit and Loss Account for the Year ended 31st March, 1931. Dr. £ s. d. Gr. £ s. d. To Trading Account .. .. .. .. 25 910 By Interest on investments .. .. .. 346 6 0 Gum-cfeaning expenses .. .. .. 313 0 0 Interest allowed on Sinking Fund contributions 31 18 5 Wages .. .. .. .. • • 14 3 5 Miscellaneous .. .. .. • • 10 0 Freight and cartage .. .. .. 4 19 Balance, net loss for year, carried down .. 3,210 16 3 Depreciation .. .. .. •. 13 0 0 Insurance .. .. .. ■. 40 1 8 Printing and stationery .. .. .. 22 6 Rent .. .. .. .. ■. 267 3 3 General expenses .. .. .. 196 1710 Interest on debentures .. .. .. 2,71405 £3,590 0 8 £3,590 0 8 £ s. d. £ s. d. To Balance from previous year .. .. 61,103 11 3 By Adjustment on account previous year .. 173 17 2 Balance carried down .. .. .. 3,210 16 3 Balance—Accumulated loss to 31st March, 1931 71,350 22 Loss on realization .. .. .. 7,209 11 10 £71,523 19 4 £71,523 19 4 Receipts and Payments Account fob the Year ended 31st March, 1931. Receipts. £ s. d. Payments. £ s. d. To Cash in Public Account, Ist April, 1931 .. 16,722 1 7 By Expenditure under section 4, Kauri-gum Sales of gum .. .. .. .. 3,009 13 0 Industry Amendment Act, 1914 .. .. 767 810 Proceeds derived from sale of sundry assets .. 136 13 7 Securities redeemed and cancelled .. .. 18,000 0 0 Interest on investments .. .. .. 506 2 5 Cost of exchange on cash remitted to London for investment .. .. .. .. 19 3 10 Cash in Public Account at 31st March, 1931 .. 1,587 17 11 £20,374 10 7 £20,374 10 7 Balance-sheet as at 31st March, 1931. Liabilities. Assets. £ s. d. Capital £ s. d. £ s. d. Realization Account—-Assets in course of realization 7,839 11 7 Debentures at 4 per cent. .. 57,000 0 0 Gum on hand .. .. .. .. 2,648 10 6 Crown Lands Account .. 500 0 0 Advances on gum .. .. .. .. 27 11 11 57,500 0 0 Debtors— £ s. d. Consolidated Fund, for interest paid on debentures 18,665 12 6 Kauri-peat Oils .. .. .. 52 6 8 Interest accrued but not due .. .. .. 936 19 8 Sundry.. .. .. 25 16 0 Creditors — £ s. d. — 78 2 8 Interest due and unpaid on debentures 917 3 Investment in Public Debt Redemption Fund .. 829 19 6 Kauri-gam Control Board .. 39 15 0 Losses in Suspense Account .. .. .. 58 18 4 — 49 12 3 Profit and Loss Account .. .. .. 71,350 22 Writings-off reserve .. .. .. .. 7,268 10 2 Cash in Public Account .. .. .. 1,587 17 11 £84,420 14 7 £84,420 14 7 W. Robertson, Under-Secretary for Lands. W. E. Shaw, Accountant. I hereby certify that the Statement of Receipts and Payments, Trading and Profit and Loss Accounts, and Balance-sheet have been duly examined and compared with the relative books and documents submitted for audit, and correctly state the position as disclosed thereby. The following comments are appended : (1) The certificate of the Secretary has been accepted for the stocks of gum on hand ; (2) losses of stocks of gum amounting to £6,108 Bs. 10d., the value of the accumulated shrinkage and dust, have been written off without the authority of Parliament.— G. F. C. Campbell, Controller and Auditor-General.

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