KAURI-GUM INDUSTRY (REPORT ON THE) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1940.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1940 Session I, C-12

C.—l2

1940. NEW ZEALAND.

KAURI-GUM INDUSTRY (REPORT ON THE) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1940.

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

Sir, — Department of Lands and Survey, Wellington, Ist June, 1940. I have the honour to submit herewith the annual report under the Kauri-gum Industry Amendment Act, 1914, for the year ended 31st March, 1940. I have, &c., R. G. Macmorran, Under-Secretary. The Hon. Frank Langstone, Minister of Lands.

Conditions in the kauri-gum industry over the past twelve months remained steady, as in previous years, although there was a slight improvement in the market towards the end of this period. Buyers continue to report that there is little or no demand for varnish grades of gum and that very little gum of this quality is being produced. However, the demand for gum for linoleum purposes continues. Actually the total amount exported over the past twelve months shows a slight increase over the previous year. However, buyers are of the opinion that the slight increase towards the end of the period was due more to manufacturers laying in reserve supplies owing to unsettled conditions. It is again reported that most of the gum is taken by Great Britain, although small quantities are periodically exported to America and Japan, while Australia takes a certain amount. The actual production of gum was sufficient to meet demands and could be increased if required. The Director of Internal Marketing reports that owing to the restriction on the importation of foreign gums one or two factories in New Zealand are again using kauri-gum for the manufacture of varnish. Whilst these conditions continue, the demand in New Zealand should tend to increase. Export op Kauri-gum. For the year ended 31st March, 1940, the export amounted to 2,412 tons, of the value of £118,584, an average price of about £49 per ton. The tonnage, value, and average price per ton of the export for the past sixteen years are — Year ended Tonnage „ , Average 31st March, exported. a ue " per Ton. £ £ 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 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 1937 3,613 119,649 33 1938 2,491 126,612 51 1939 2,358 105,169 45 1940 2,412 118,584 49

O—l2.

Details of the yearly export, and the country to which exported, from 1928 to 1940 are given below :—

Particulars of Kauri-gum exported from New Zealand from 1st April, 1928, to 31st March, 1940, inclusive

Kauri-gum Industry Account. The assets of the Kauri-gum Industry Account have been realized, and the account has been abolished by statute.

Approximate Cost of Paper,—Preparation, not given ; printing (550 copies), £3 53.

By Authority: E. V. Paul, Government Printer, Wellington.—l94o. Price 3d.]

2

Country to 1st April, 1928, to 1 1st April, 1929, to 1st April, 1930, to 1st April, 1931, to list April,1932, to 1st April, 1933, to which exported. I 31st March, 1929. j 31st March, 1930. 31st March, 1931. 31st March, 1932. | 31st March, 1933 31st March, 1934. Tons. £ Tons. £ Tons. £ Tons. £ Tons. £ Tons. £ United States of 2,337 139,672 1,967 127,723 823 46,510 681 33,082 268 11,208 875 30,174 America United Kingdom 1,504 77,479 2,425 117,677 1,957 96,679 1,968 71,572 1,298 36,150 1,730 37,218 Germany .. 234 7,949 100 2,646 62 1,508 52 6,725 70 1,104 325 5,093 Canada .. 208 7,448 202 7,169 127 4,726 173 4,156 169 3,157 94 2,530 Australia .. 8 408 106 3,908 37 1,423 65 1,862 91 2,251 120 3,355 Belgium .. 60 1,094 30 635 43 975 69 1,154 15 230 11 208 France .. 150 5,206 89 3,764 71 2,701 94 4,173 83 2,452 143 3,642 Switzerland Netherlands .. 29 1,068 2 285 4 218 .. .. Sweden 10 282 32 837 11 218 20 461 Italy .. .. HI 127 .. 31 555 28 494 Japan .. 26 772 20 645 11 580 30 1,196 24 645 32 744 Hong Kong .. .. ■. .. •. . • .. .. . . • • .. .. 26 China South African Union Fiji •• •• •• •• •• ; •• Totals .. 4,566 241,223 4,941 264,452 3,145 155,602 3,164 124,757 2,060 57,970 3,378 83,945 Country to j 1st April, 1934, to I 1st April, 1985, to 1st April, 1936, to 1st April, 1937, to 1st April, 1938, to 1st April, 1939, to which exported. 31st March, 1935. 31st March, 1936. 31st March, 1937. 31st March, 1938. 31st March, 1939. 31st March, 1940. Tons. £ Tons. £ Tons. £ Tons. £ Tons. £ Tons. £ United States of 394 20,602 553 24,488 478 28,844 548 38,010 169 13,179 418 30,962 America United Kingdom 2,267 54,365 1,570 39,181 2,200 62,963 1,486 65,921 1,535 60,484 1,580 67,740 Germany .. 251 4,986 41 769 78 2,241 37 1,910 36 1,806 7 650 Canada .. 114 2,623 62 1,689 263 8,228 205 9,988 237 11,035 207 9,246 Australia .. 150 3,588 171 3,058 311 7,575 27 1,238 135 6,243 33 2,090 Belgium 42 889 21 618 13 837 France .. 116 2,768 122 3,193 144 5,584 47 2,639 73 3,721 59 2,721 Switzerland . . .. .. .. .. 20 512 Netherlands .. 3 90 II 262 37 943 21 1,021 33 1,810 66 2,983 Sweden .. .. .. 57 1,043 16 560 61 2,247 22 785 10 300 Italy .. .. 75 825 4 245 30 1,160 .. Japan .. 42 1,223 36 985 45 1,581 46 2,801 87 4,937 32 1,892 Hong Kong .. . . .. . . .. . . China South African Union Fiji I 9 Totals .. 3,412 91,070 2,669 75,802 3,613 1.19,649 2,491 126,612 2,358 105,169 2,412 118,584