DEPARTMENT OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS (ANNUAL REPORT OF THE) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1944.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1944 Session I, H-22

H.—22

1944 N E W ZBALAND

DEPARTMENT OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS (ANNUAL REPORT OF THE) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1944.

Laid on the Table of the House of Representatives by Leave

Sir,— Department of Internal Affairs, Wellington, 24th July, 1944. I have the honour to submit herewith the annual report of the Department for the year ended 31st March, 1944. I have, &c., . The Hon. W. E. Parry, ,T. W. Heenan, Under-Secretary. Minister of Internal Affairs.

REPORT

I. HISTORICAL BRANCH The work of the Branch has gone on steadily during the year. The Historical Atlas staff is now three. Work on the Early Settlement map is much nearer completion, the material for the Modern Maori map lias been checked, checking is now going on for the Map showing Early Missionary Activity, and Antarctic Exploration is being pretty thoroughly revised and brought up to date from the available material. On the typographical side the Branch produced the Ngarimu V.C. Investiture booklets and other printed materials, has co-operated with the Prime Minister's Department, with Army Archives, and with the Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Council in printing production, and has designed and supervised a number of special bindings. The Branch has also advised on the purchase of pictures for public purposes, and on such matters as the preservation of early New Zealand buildings of historical interest. Documentary photographic work for publicity overseas has been carried on continuously, involving much travel and technical skill. A great deal of labour has been put into the provision of the text for a handbook on New Zealand for distribution in the United States, and this is now almost complete. 11. CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTIONS The responsibilities of the Department in the constitutional field included action in connection with the following matters :— (a) The preparation of the documents relating to the dissolution of Parliament and other constitutional steps arising from the holding of the general election : (b) The issue of the writs for the general election : (c) Appointments to and vacancies in the Legislative Council: (<l) The appointment and resignation of members of the Executive Council and Ministers: (e) The prorogation and summoning of Parliament: (/) Appointment of Deputy of the Governor-General. 111. LOCAL GOVERNMENT A. General Organization The services of the Local Government Branch of the Department were again utilized to the maximum.extent in carrying out the Department's statutory functions arising out of the local-government legislation, The Branch maintained close contact with local authorities generally, and advice and

1T.—22

assistance was given to local authorities and others interested in local government. Owing to the detailed nature of the work involved, it is not possible to deal with all the matters which came before the Department, but amongst the more general matters dealt with were— (a) Alterations of the boundaries of various local districts, particularly in relation to the City of Christchurch, where such problems became very prominent arising from several petitions for the inclusion of lands in that city : (b) Abolition of the system of separate riding finance in counties. Seventy-seven County Councils have now abolished this system : (c) The alteration of county riding boundaries and riding representation, which were more numerous by reason of the, pending general elections of City Councils : (d) Inquiries and correspondence concerning the local-body elections, which were due to be held in May, 1944 : (e) The appointment and election of members of Fire Boards, the approval of agreements for fire protection, the issue of loan authorities to Fire Boards, and allied matters : (/) Matters affecting the financial requirements of local authorities involving approvals and other action : (g) Rating and valuation questions, including urban farm land rating : (h) The administration and rehabilitation of Thames Borough and Matakaoa County : (i) Proposals for the constitution of new town districts : (j) Special questions arising out of the Auckland City Council's proposals to develop further its water-supply from the Waitakere and Hunua Ranges, and the alternative proposals advanced by certain objecting local authorities that the supply should be obtained from the Waikato River : (k) Miscellaneous activities relating to the problems of local bodies arising from day to day. B. Legislation (1) Statutes Amendment Act, 1943 Several sections in this Act affected Acts administered by this Department. An important provision authorized County Councils to institute action for the control of nasella tussock, which, in some counties, has menaced farm production to a considerable extent. (2) Local Legislation Act, 1943 A total of thirty-two clauses was included in this Bill as finally passed. The Act dealt with a wide range of local-government activity. (3) Local Acts Eight local Bills were submitted to the Department for examination and report, and these were duly passed into law. The Department was represented at the meetings of the Local Bills Committee when these Bills were under consideration. (4 ) Ijocal Elections and Polls Amendment Act, 1944 Towards the end of the year the Government indicated that, as a matter of policy, it desired to introduce legislation making certain important changes in the law relating to local-body elections and membership. These changes involved two main features : — (a) The introduction of the residential franchise for rural areas ; and (b) Giving the right to employees to stand as candidates for the local authority that employs them. Other changes proposed were incidental to these two main features, and involved the use of the parliamentary rolls for local elections, the removal of the disqualification for non-payment of rates, amending provisions as to voting by declaration, and altering the date for holding certain elections of specially-constituted Boards in Auckland and Christchurch so as to ease the congestion on normal polling-day. A. Bill embodying these proposals was referred to the Local Bills Committee to give organizations and others interested an opportunity of presenting evidence thereon. A considerable amount of evidence was brought before the Committee, necessitating lengthy sittings, throughout which the Department was represented. The Local Bills Committee recommended a large number of changes in the Bill as introduced. Most of these changes were largely of a machinery nature and there were none of a really fundamental character. The biggest change was the dropping of the proposals to use the parliamentary rolls for local elections. The evidence clearly showed that the scheme, whilst having much to commend it in principle, would not work out satisfactorily in practice. In place thereof provision was made for the compulsory enrolment of electors in boroughs and town districts. Upon the Bill being reported back to the House, it was evident that considerable opposition would bo raised to certain of the provisions, and this opposition steadily developed during the later stages of the Bill, involving very lengthy sittings of the House. The Department was represented throughout the whole of the proceedings, and considerable use was made of departmental officers in giving information to members on the various aspects of the Bill which were under debate. As finally passed, the Bill provided for the following main subject-matters :— (a) Postponement of local-body elections for one week : (It) Extension of time for closing of rolls in boroughs, town districts, and counties : (c) Compulsory enrolment of residential electors in boroughs and town districts : (d) Adoption of residential franchise in counties, road districts, electric-power districts, harbour districts, hospital districts, and catchment districts : (e) Special residential provision for returned servicemen of the present war : (/) Certain defaulting ratepayers to be allowed to vote at local-body elections : (g) Amending provisions as to voting by declaration : (A) Employees of local authorities to be qualified for membership thereof: (i) Postponement of Christchurch Drainage Board and Christchurch Tramway Board elections.

2

H.—22

The passing- of the. Bill caused a considerable amount of work to local authorities and their officers, particularly in the rural areas, owing to the near approach of the local-body elections. A large number of new problems emerged as a result of the legislation, and the Department was continually asked for advice by local bodies and other organizations right up until the day of the election, and, indeed, for beyond that day. Tn addition, a programme of broadcasting on various features of the Act and the elections was arranged, and the material for these broadcasts was prepared by the Department. It is interesting also to record here that the broadcasting authorities made very full arrangements for broadcasting progress returns and results on election night. The most comprehensive use that has ever been made of the broadcasting facilities in connection with local-body elections took place on this occasion. IV. TOWN-PLANNING Town-planning activities were of necessity severely restricted on account of the war. Nevertheless, the Department kept in touch with those local authorities that were preparing or contemplating the preparation of town-planning schemes and gave much advice and assistance in relation thereto. Particular attention was devoted to the metropolitan schemes for Auckland and Christchurch, in respect of which further progress was made, and several consultations took place with the local authorities concerned with those two schemes. V. LAND-AGENTS AND AUCTIONEERS During the year 712 (708) land-agents' licenses were issued and 6 (6) transfers granted ; 443 (43'2) auctioneers' licenses were issued, H (0) transfers granted, and 112 (31) changes of endorsement of seller made (last year's figures in parentheses).. VI. PRISONERS OF WAR Some further progress was made during the year in obtaining information with regard to New Zealand nationals in enemy-occupied territory, particularly those in the Far East. This information was received from the High Commissioner for New Zealand in London, from prisoner-of-war cards received by next-of-kin, and from radio messages broadcast from enemy stations. In every case the next-of-kin or relatives were advised, where they could be traced. Further negotiations took place between the respective Governments with a view to repatriation of British nationals, including New-Zealanders, at present in Japanese hands, but for certain reasons the negotiations did not progress satisfactorily and no New Zealand nationals were therefore released under exchange arrangements. These negotiations are still going on, and it is hoped that they will result in a substantial number of British and other nationals being repatriated at the earliest opportunity. Where information became available concerning casualties to merchant seamen of New Zealand origin, appropriate advice was sent to the next-of-kin. VII. PHYSICAL WELFARE AND RECREATION During the year the organization and control of the physical training and sports programme of the Air Training Corps has been carried out by officers of the Department, resulting in a commendable improvement in the physical effectiveness of the Cadets and a stimulation of recreational interest among the boys. Sports have been arranged and coached for the squadrons and inter-squadron competitions arranged. Good progress has been made by the Provincial Councils of Sport. The New Zealand Council of Sport, which has now been formed and is operating successfully, is a consultative body on which it is hoped to have represented all the national sports organizations. This Council, like the provincial councils, has no executive power over the member associations, but is a valuable medium for the better correlation of matters of common interest to sport in the Dominion. The Council has made an important contribution to wartime sport by undertaking the allocation of sporting materials available and by arranging with the Departments of Supply and National Service for the release of the material and labour requisite to produce the supplies of .sporting material considered necessary for the maintenance of minimum recreation during the war. It is already apparent that the Council's work will be of great assistance to New Zealand sport, and the Department is giving the closest possible attention to all recommendations received from the New Zealand Council of Sport. Many of the officers of the Department are on active service with the Forces, but where staffing has permitted, recreational activities have been organized for the community. Some clubs which have been in retirement on account of the war have been revived and kept open. In some districts officers also assisted in the developing of inter-house sports, their work being received with enthusiasm, and in conjunction with Inter-house Association and kindred bodies have organized special pageants and displays which were most successful from every point of view. Considerable attention has been given to the question of public playgrounds in New Zealand and the desirability of promoting recreational interests in young workers and children in order to occupy their leisure hours. Experimental programmes have been organized in various centres and very commendable results achieved. As stalling permits, these activities will be extended. There has been a great demand for the assistance of physical-welfare officers in the organizing of holiday recreation camps for war workers, and despite travel restrictions it has been possible to promote several camps. Several tramping parties have also been organized for groups of young people.' Many recreational activities have been taken in hand by voluntary leaders trained in previous years, and further leaders have been trained. Several classes of leaders from Church groups are being trained to conduct physical and recreational programmes for their respective organizations. The Department is building up an information service on all matters affecting sport and recreation in order that after the war it will be possible to assist organizations and individuals by disseminating information on modern recreation trends and programmes, and providing accurate plans and specifications for all types of recreation facilities and equipment likely to be required. This work involves maintaining an up-to-date reference of what is being done overseas in this field, and the making of such knowledge available to community groups, many of which could not otherwise obtain it.

3

H.—22

Group Travel operations have had to be severely curtailed on account of travel restrictions and the war, but notwithstanding these difficulties the organization has been held together and developed in order to cater for post-war demands, and a really commendable number of parties have been handled with very satisfactory results. Attention has been given to the question of developing community centres in New Zealand, and the Department is collaborating with other Departments interested. The development of such centres, including cultural and recreational activities, must have an uplifting effect on the physical welfare and morale of the community. The National Council of Physical Welfare and Recreation has given consideration to the requirements of post-war recreation, and the work that will be necessary to satisfy the ever-growing demands of the community in this respect. VIII. PATRIOTIC PURPOSES A. Patriotic Purposes Branch The work of the Patriotic Purposes Branch again increased considerably, particularly in view of the increased number of theatres of war in which New Zealand fighting Forces were stationed or engaged. The year commenced with peak mobilization in so far as the Army was concerned, and during the year numerous readjustments necessitated increased office and store personnel, and accommodation to cope with the situation. The following are figures of goods shipped overseas on behalf of the eleven Provincial Patriotic Councils :— Gift parcels .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 240,000 Cigarettes .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 7,980,000 Tobacco .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 2,980 Ib. Tobacco parcels (Postal Tobacco Scheme) .. .. .. 53,160 Patriotic goods shipped to the Pacific area, the Middle East, United Kingdom, India, Canada, and elsewhere, including comforts for hospitals overseas and for troops on transports, occupied over 122,000 cubic feet of space. The major shipments were to the Pacific area, where 348 different lines of goods were shipped, and to the Middle East, where 169 different lines were shipped. In the Middle East and in the United Kingdom most of the comforts for Service personnel, other than gift parcels and woollen goods, arc purchased overseas by the National Patriotic Fund Board's representatives. The administration expenses of the National Patriotic Fund Board for the year were 2s. lid. per cent, of receipts, as compared with 2s. Bd. per cent, for the previous year. This is particularly accounted for by the fact that the office expenses and salaries continue to be a charge against the Internal Affairs Department vote. It is not generally realized that the National Patriotic Fund Board is subsidized by the Government by approximately £500,000 a year, which includes a payment for all goods purchased for prisoner-of-war food parcels. A summary of the receipts and payments of the National Patriotic Fund Board and Provincial Patriotic Councils for the year ended 30th September, 1943, is set out below : —

Provincial Patriotic Councils

National Patriotic Fund Board £ Balance as at Ist October, 1942 (cash and investments) .. .. 437,893 Receipts from Provincial Councils and all other sources .. .. 1,417,059 1,854,952 Less payments .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,250,771 Balance at 30th September, 1943 (cash and investments) .. £604,181

4

Receipts. Payments. Balance on „ , t . Balance on Hand as at Received, f Miscellaneous Hand as at 1st October, 1942-13. e T " Payments. 30th Soptem1942. ° ' her, 1943. . ■ - - — . _ £ • '£ £ £ £ Auckland .. .. .. 168/111 1 164,117 306,834 112,130 213,564 East Coast.. .. .. 33,078 28,722 24,117 5,941 31,742 Hawke's Bay .. .. 41,232 85,977 38,073 16,105 73,031 Taranaki .. .. .. 61,075 44,566 30,353 16,033 59,255 Wellington.. .. .. 141,152 217,159 174,572 75,445 138,291 Marlborough .. .. 14,759 16,606 9,899 5,802 15,664 Nelson .. .. .. 56,597 29,706 15,637 6,123 64,543 Wcstland | 24,504 15,337 9,482 4,247 26,112 Canterbury .. .. 83,087 196,931 88,403 62,534 129,081 Otago .. .. .. 178,905 117,780 82,530 18,549 195,606 Southland .. .. .. 81,781 54,055 35,110 14,037 86,689 Totals .. .. 884,581 1,300,956 815,010 336,946 I 1,033,581* * A considerable proportion of this balance is money specially collected for post-war welfare work and cannot 1 bo used for general patriotic expenditure.

H.—22

Details of Board's receipts and payments are as follows :—

B. Patriotic Raffles Seventy-six licenses to raffle gifts of real or personal property for patriotic purposes were issued. Returns to hand indicate that the gross proceeds from licenses issued by the Department were approximately £12,940 and the net return £12,426. IX. CINEMATOGRAPH THEATRES A. Film Censorship During the year, 1,488 films of all classes, totalling 3,720,500 ft., were examined. Of this number, 102 were passed subject to excisions, 113 were passed with recommendations that they were more suitable for adult audiences, and 22 were passed with the caution that they were not suitable for children. Appeals were lodged against the Censor's decision to make certain eliminations in 2 films ; I was dismissed and the other allowed, subject to the proviso that the picture was unsuitable for exhibition to young children. One other appeal, held over for some time, was allowed, and the film finally passed by the Board of Appeal without amendment. An analysis of the work shows :—

Quota Films : The countries of origin of the quota or feature films examined were as follows : Great Britain, 24 ; Australia, 1 ; Russia, 2 ; United States of America, 342. General Remarks : During the year under review, as compared with the previous year, the number of films requiring amendment was 102, as against 125; the number recommended as more suitable for adults was 113, as against 117 ; and the number considered to be definitely unsuitable for young people was 22, as compared with 24 in the previous year. Pictures with war themes continue to be produced by the American film studios and in a lesser degree by the studios in Great Britain, with, of course, a strong bias towards anti-Nazi doctrines. Many of these productions were considered to be harmless for general exhibition after, in some cases, being subjected to minor excisions., There was a drop in the number of miniature films presented ; 51, as against 90 in the previous year. On the whole, there was little to complain of in respect to the standard of the pictures examined during the year. As already indicated, the world war exerts a paramount influence on the stories handled by the producing corporations, and the lighter type of entertainment—comedies, &c.— were not much in evidence. B. Licensing of Cinematograph Operators One hundred and eighty new applications for provisional and assistant operators' licenses were considered, as compared with 266 new applications for the previous year, while 158 provisional and grade licenses and 122 new assistant operators' licenses were issued. This made a total of 1,144 operators and 638 assistant operators licensed since the coming into force of the regulations in 1938. During the year a number of emergency licenses were issued to meet the shortage of operators arising from wartime conditions. Several applications were under consideration at the close of the year. C. Exhibitors' and other Licenses The following licenses under the Cinematograph Films Act were issued for the year ended 30th September, 1943 : Exhibitors', 443 ; circuit exhibitors', 28 ; renters', 13 ; storage, 9 ; miscellaneous, 17. X. ANIMALS PROTECTION AND GAME A. General (1) Bird-life. -There were open game-shooting seasons in most acclimatization districts last year. The indications are that the close season in 1942 and the restricted one in 1943 for waterfowl have resulted in a marked increase in waterfowl. The North Island Vermin Control Scheme has again operated.

5

Receipts from Provincial i Patriotic Councils and Payments during Year Budget (estimated Exall otliei Sources during ended 30th Septem- penditure) for Year Year ended 30th Sep- ber, 1943. ending 30th September, tember, 1043. t 1944. £ £ £ general .. .. .. 802,777 866,237 558,250 Sick and wounded .. .. 197,432 142,958 102,250 Prisoners of war .. .. 416,850 241,576 53,000 Totals .. .. 1,417,059 1,250,771 713,500

Quota or Long Films. Non-quota or Short Films. Origin. Number, j Length. Number. Length. Ft. Ft. British .. .. .. 25 202,420 450 375,590 Foreign .. .. .. .. 344 2,536,960 669 605,530 Totals 369 2,739,380 1,119 981,120 ~

R—22

Protection on Canadian geese has been removed in the Ashburton Acclimatization District. Lake Murihiku, in the Southland Acclimatization District, and Horse-shoe Lake, in the North Canterbury Acclimatization District, have been declared sanctuaries under the Animals Protection and Game Act, 1921-22. In the Rotorua Acclimatization District the large tracts of native bush provide shelter for fairly large numbers of native birds, and ranging to the extent that staff and facilities will permit has been carried out. (2) Opossums.—The number of skins stamped was 180,168, compared with 263,351 the previous year. B. Deer, Thar, and Chamois Operations During the financial year a total of 20,032 animals were destroyed by departmental parties. In addition, 251 cats and rats were destroyed at Stewart Island, and 24 wild pigs, 9 wild cattle, 2 deer, and 2 cats by officers in the Rotorua Acclimatization District. The number of each species and localities are as under :—

The following is a list of last season's total numerical results and geographical analysis for comparison purposes between seasons in the same regions

Season 1st June, 1942, to 31st May, 1943

From the departmental operations 8,749 skins were saved. Private hunters sold 3,396 skins to the Department. There is a very keen demand for deer-skins, and the Department disposed of 11,595 for export overseas. • Large quantities of rifle ammunition have been sold to runholders and others who are assisting in keeping down the numbers of deer, goats, and wild pigs. XI. ROTORUA ACCLIMATIZATION DISTRICT A. The Fishing Season The majority of the fish taken at the opening of the season on Ist November, 1943, were in good condition for that time of the year. Very heavy rains from, early February, 1944, affected the Bay of Plenty rivers as well as other waters. There have been great fluctuations in the Waikato River below the lake outlet, caused by the rising and closing of the control gates. The number of licenses issued is likely to show a marked increase on that for the previous year. Weights of some of the large iish taken and recorded by departmental officers are : — Taupo Area.- 14 lb. ; 12$ lb. ; 12 lb. (2) ; 11 lb. (2) ; 10 lb. to 10$ lb. (3). Rotorua Area,- 18 j- lb. ; 17 lb. ; 16 Ib.; 151b.; 13$ lb. ; 11$ lb. (2); 10 lb. to 10$ lb. (3). B. General (1) Fry and Ova. At No. 1 Hatchery, Ngongotaha, 962,000 eggs from Tarawera and Ngongotaha as well as 497,000 from No. 2 Hatchery Tongariro were handled. At the latter hatchery 2,139,500 eggs were stripped. The Waikaremoana Hatchery handled 200,000 eggs from No. 2 Hatchery. Sales of ova to acclimatization societies amounted to 580,000. The following figures show the number of rainbow fry planted in various waters : Tauyo Fishing District.- Tongariro, 191,500 ; Waitahanui, 160,000 ; Tauranga-Taupo, 142,000 ; Hatepe, 40,000 ; Waimarino, 134,(XX); Hatchery Creek, 47,000. Rotorua Fishing District. —Rotorua, 108,000; Rotoiti, 92,000 ; Rotoma, 74,000 ; Rotoehu, 74,000 ; Tarawera, 170,000 ; Rotokakahi, 83,000 ; Okataina, 110,000 ; Okareka, 56,000; Rerewhakaitu, 35,000 ; Taahunaatara, 19,000 ; Whakatane, 63,000 ; Waioeka, 42,000 ; Waimana, 63,000. Brown-trout Fry were planted as follows : Rotoehu, 15,000 ; Waioeka, 14,000 ; Taahunaatara, 5,000.

6

1 ~j j i ! [ Locality. ! Deer, j Thar. I Chamois, j Goats, i Pigs. I Total. Urewera and Lake Waikaremoana .. 1,257 .. .. .. 149 1,406 Marlborough, and North Canterbury .. 3,044 .. .. '246 .. 3,290 Otago and South Westland .. 12,155 70 12 .. .. 12,237 Southland and Fiordland National Park .. 2,451 .. .. .. 16 2,467 Stewart Island .. .. .. .. 632 .. .. .. .. 632 Totals .. .. 19,539 70 12 246 165 20,032 | ,

Locality. Deer. Thar. Chamois. Goats. Pigs. Total. n j TJrewera and Lake Waikaremoana .. 1,308 .. .. .. 195 1,503 Marlborough and North Canterbury .. 4,304 .. .. 203 .. 4,507 Otago and South Westland .. .. 4,133 458 59 .. .. 4,650 Southland and Fiordland National Park .. 1,948 .. .. .. .. 1,948 Stewart Island .. . . .. 517 .. .. .. .. 517 Totals.. .. .. ..12,210 458 59 203 195 13,125

11.—22

(2) Culling of Trout - The number of trout culled at No. 2 Hatchery was 39 males and 82 females. (3) Food-supplies for Trout. —Smelts have been very numerous in many waters, particularly Taupo, where they have been observed in extremely large shoals. They have worked downstream from the lake outlet. (4) Black Shags, Hawks, &c.~ -Bonuses were paid on 218 shags and 10 hawks. Departmental officers destroyed 131 shags, 26 hawks, 8 weasels, and 2 cats. (5) Game Farm. —Hen and duck eggs to the number of 3,489 dozen were sold. Of the 333 fowl chicks reared, 128 cockerels were disposed of. The number of pheasants and mallard ducks liberated were 848 and 240 respectively. (6) Opossums. —Only 1,670 skins were stamped, as compared with 8,733 the previous year. (7) Banging.- Fines for breaches of the Fisheries Regulations (41 in all) amounted to £118. XII. WAR GRAVES Six hundred and eighty-two notifications of deaths of returned soldiers of the Great War were recorded during the year, and temporary crosses were placed on 373 graves. The position with respect to the supply and erection of headstones has shown some improvement, but the contractors still have a good deal of leeway to make up. During the year 223 headstones were erected, 83 of these being upon the graves of men who died of war injuries or whose deaths were accelerated by war service. Additional construction work was carried out in the soldier cemeteries at Karori, Wairoa, Masterton Taita, Ashburton, and Eastern Necropolis. New Zealand war graves overseas are being attended to by the Imperial War Graves Commission. Up to the 31st March last, 882 deaths have been recorded of men and women serving in the present war. Temporary crosses have been erected in 586 cases. XIII. DISTINGUISHED VISITORS New Zealand was honoured during this period by the visit of Mrs. Roosevelt, wife of the President of the United States of America. In Auckland and Wellington, besides being accorded State and civic welcomes, she addressed representative gatherings of women, inspected many women's war-service activities, and visited United States Service hospitals and clubs. In Rotorua she was given a civic welcome, a typical Maori welcome by the Arawa Tribe, and visited our own Services Convalescent hospital. A visit was made by Lieut.-General Sir Bernard Freyberg, V.C., K.C.8., K.8.E., C.M.G., D.5.0., G.O.C. 2nd N.Z.E.F. Middle East, and Captain .), C. White, C.B.E. General Freyberg's tour included' all of both Islands that could be fitted in during his brief stay, and at all places visited he was most enthusiastically received by the citizens and his comrades in. arms. Consequent on Brigadier-General Hurley's departure from New Zealand, the Hon. William C. Burdett arrived with his wife and family and was accorded a reception. On the 12th December, 1943 he presented his letters of credence as Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States of America in New Zealand. It was extremely regrettable that Mr. Burdett died in office shortly afterwards. Arrangements in connection with the arrival of the Hon. T. G. de L. D'Alton, High Commissioner for Australia in New Zealand, and Mrs. D'Alton were also undertaken by this section. Among other distinguished visitors who came to this country during the year were Sir Phillip Mitchell, K.C.M.G., M.C., Governor of Fiji, who was accompanied by Lady Mitchell; the British Press Delegation, the members of which were Sir Walter Layton, Ch., C.8.E., Sir Neville Pearson, Bt., and Mr. Samuel Storey, M.P. ; the Canadian Press Delegation, the members of which were Messrs! Arthur Ford, B. T. Richardson, and Lorenzo Parre ; the British Military Mission, which comprised Major-General J. S. Lethbridge, Rear Admiral F. H. W. Goolden, C.8., Air Commodore L. L. Mac Lean, Colonel J. I. Moore, U.S.A.A.F., Colonel R. R. Robins, U.S.A., Colonel W. C. De Ware, U.S.A., Captain R. E. Blick, U.S.N., Lieutenant-Colonel D. C. Curme, and Lieutenant-Colonel E. D. E. Andrewee ; the Group Supply Mission from India, comprising Mr. I. F. Elliot, Major-General R. P. PackenhamWalsh, Major Sir Thomas Berney, 8.T., and Mr. F. Harrison ; the British-American Steel Mission, the members of which were Sir John Duncanson, Messrs. E. A. Emerson and N. Anderson, and Captain A. H. Gaal; Lord Knollys, Chairman of British Overseas Airways and Mr. Campbell-Orde, Operations Manager of the same company; Mr. A. .1. Eraser, Chairman of the Transport Regulations Board, Victoria ; the British-Australian Supply Mission, comprising Messrs. Broadribb, Kearns, and Hewlett' Major-General R. A. Dewing, C.8., D.5.0., M.C.R.E., Group Captain R. Grice, 0.8. E., D.F.C., and' Lieutenant-Colonel C. J. Briscoe ; Major-General R. J. Mitchell, United States Marine Corps ; Rear Admiral T. S. Wilkinson, U.S.N., Deputy Commander, South Pacific Force ; Generals Harmon and Breen and Colonel Maxwell, United States Marine Corps ; Vice-Admiral Danckwerts ; Rear-Admiral Robert B. Carney, United States Navy, Chief of Staff to Admiral Halsey ; Mr. L. W. Brockington, Adviser on Empire Affairs to the British Ministry of Information ; Major-General C. F. B. Price' United States Marine Corps ; Dr. Allan Nevins, Office of War Information, Washington ; Lord Burghley, who visited New Zealand in a Lancaster bomber; the master and second officer of a Netherlands vessel, Captain P. M. Verstelle and Mr. H. A. Scheybeller ; Mr. W. Bankes Amery, C.8.E., head of the United Kingdom Food Mission to Australia and New Zealand, and Mrs. Amery ; Mr. W. a! Johnston, British Consul at Noumea, Mrs. Johnston, and daughter. In addition to State luncheons and other receptions tendered during the visits of many of the above named, receptions were also tendered to Commander Gene Tunney, Director of Physical Training of the United States Navy, who is well-known as a former professional boxing champion ; the New Zealand Press Delegation on their departure overseas ; Mrs. W. E. Burdett, widow of the United States Minister ; Captain James P. Olding, U.S.N., American Naval Attache ; and to Air Vice Marshal R. V. Goddard. A reception was held in honour of Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Buchanan, of Port Chalmers, who were presented with the Navy Cross (U.S.A.). Their son was killed whilst serving on H.M.N.Z.S.'

7

H—22

" Kiwi." Repatriated prisoners of war and sick and wounded soldiers received official welcomes on their return to New Zealand. The officers and crews of visiting Allied merchantmen were entertained. The United Nations Flag Day Ceremony, which took the form of an Armed Forces parade, was held on Monday, 14th June, 1943. The Department was charged with the supervision and co-ordination of official arrangements in connection with the Ngariniu V.C. Investiture function at Ruatoria on 6th October, 1943. Its indebtedness to Army and civilian Departments also concerned is gratefully acknowledged. The State funeral arrangements necessitated by the deaths of the Hon. P. K. Paikea and the Right Hon. J. G. Coates, M.C., M.P., were also dealt with by this section. The Department has been greatly indebted to the late Mr. H. Tai Mitchell, C.M.G., and the Arawa people generally for their ready and willing co-operation in giving, often at very short notice, Maori welcomes to distinguished visitors during the year. XIV. RAFFLES AND ART UNIONS One hundred and fifty-eight licenses under the authority of section 42 of the Gaming Act, 1908, were issued during the year. Of these, 99 were for works of art, 47 for small amounts of alluvial gold, and 12 for alluvial gold to the value of £5,000 each. The following table sets out the aggregate result of the £5,000 alluvial gold art unions : — £ s. d. Gross sales .. .. .. .. .. 251,675 0 0 Commissions on sales .. ... .. .. 37,75150 Expenses .. .. .. .. •• .. 30,854 3 1 Prizes .. .. .... .. .. 60,000 0 0 Net proceeds .. .. .. .. .. 123,069 11 11 Lottery duty .. .. .. •• .. 25,167 10 0 Net profit .. .. .. .. .. .. 97,902 111 Of the net profit, £27,370 was distributed to the various Mayoral and other recognized central relief of distress funds, £20,340 to charitable and philanthropic organizations, £15,580 7s. sd. to patriotic funds, and £10,354 2s. 6d. to children's health camps. XV. PASSPORTS AND EXIT PERMITS The following are the statistics, with last year's figures shown in parentheses : New passports 614 (338) ; passport renewals, 139 (53) ; exit permits, 2,998 (2,725). XVI. CHANGE OF NAME Applications were dealt with as follows (last year's figures in parentheses): Approved, 68 (74); declined, 2 (1). XVII. NATURALIZATION At the close of the year a number of applications for naturalization from persons who had served or were serving with the Armed Forces were under consideration. Thirty-five British-born wives of aliens made declarations to retain in New Zealand the rights of a British subject. XVIII. RACING For the current racing year ending on 31st July, 1944, the allocation of totalizator licenses was restricted to 120 days for racing and hunt clubs and 42 days for trotting clubs for ordinary meetings. Ten additional totalizator licenses, 7 for racing clubs and 3 for trotting clubs, have been released, the profits from the meetings to be devoted to patriotic funds. Particulars of totalizator investments and taxation arc published in the Monthly Abstract of Statistics. XIX. WAR FUNDS, 1914-18 Latest returns from the fifty-two patriotic societies operating under the War Funds Act, 1915, and amendments show a total sum held of £520,223 6s. 6d., a reduction of £43,237 lis. 7d., as compared with a decrease of £35,742 19s. 6d. shown in the previous annual report. XX. ADVERTISING OFFICE Newspaper-advertising costs recorded for the nine months ended 31st December, 1943, amounted to £29,037 7s. 3d., an increase of £5,119 18s. 3d. over the previous similar period, largely attributable to general election, Air Force, rationing, national service, and tourist and marketing advertising. The press clippings forwarded to Ministers and Departments average in excess of 2,500 weekly. XXI. EXPLOSIVES AND DANGEROUS GOODS During the year the following licenses were issued : - Ex/plosives. Importation, 18; conveyance, 194 ; sale, 547 ; storage, 446. Dangerous Goods. —2,128. In addition to this, 163 municipalities are licensing authorities under the Act, and the branch Inspectors supervise the field-work. The licenses issued under both the Explosive and Dangerous Goods Amendment Act, 1920, and the Industrial Efficiency Act, 1936, are checked in this office. In order to reduce office work and conserve paper, arrangements have been made during the past, two years to obviate the necessity of issuing annual licenses under the Explosive and Dangerous Goods Act, 1908, and the Cinematograph Films Act, 1928. Emergency regulations (1942/214 and 1943/218) were made providing that licenses issued for the current year should remain in force for the period of the war and thereafter until revoked. It has not been found practicable to take similar action with respect to the dangerousgoods licenses, but the reduction in office work will enable a larger amount of inspection work to be carried out than has been possible during the past two years.

8

H.—22

XXII. THE ALEXANDER TURNBULL LIBRARY The work of the Library has gone steadily forward. A. Holdings and Acquisitions The number of books catalogued is now over 68,000. Three thousand volumes were catalogued during the year, about 430 of these being purchases, and the rest gifts and exchanges. Advantage was taken of the sale of a fine private library to secure some good art books and books of literary history and biography. A small group came from the Bibliographical Society, consisting of some volumes of the Transactions, and books on English song books, the bibliography of English printed drama, and Early Spanish bookbindings. The other books were mostly the Esperanto books presented by Mr. G. Gordon and the Earp collection of books on bees and beekeeping (about 250 in each), and a further selection from the Kinsey collection, including the Arctic and Antarctic books. B. Uses of the Library The number of readers, about 3,000, is much the same as in former years. Besides the general public, a number of servicemen and servicewomen find the Library a good place in which to spend some of their spare time, either for casual reading or to follow up some subject in which they are interested. Books on the Pacific in general are naturally popular, and studies have been made of particular islands or groups, such as Pitcairn, Samoa, the Solomons, &c. New Zealand subjects studied include race relations in New Zealand, immigration, and aspects of Maori life and history. C. Exhibitions The main exhibitions have been : Art of our Allies, Islands in the News, Arctic and Antarctic Regions, literary and historical anniversaries of 1943, fine illustrated books, and a special exhibition of some of the best of the Library's treasures. D. Indexing Besides the "New Zealand Journal," -periodicals containing articles of literary or historic interest to New Zealand have been indexed. Those completed include the N.Z. Railways Magazine, the New Zealand, Illustrated Magazine, Wanderlust, and The Lone Hand, as far as the Library set goes. Efforts to locate a full set that might be borrowed to complete the index have been unavailing. The indexing has also been done of the typescript of H. S. Chapman's letters, the letters of S. Revans, and " Our Fathers have told Us." E. Donations and Exchanges The largest donation received during the year was that of Mr. Harold Large, of Napier, who gave nearly one hundred books on the Bacon-Shakespeare question and on Bacon himself, the collection being the work of many years. He also gave a set of English translations of the works of Jules Verne. Another valuable gift was that of Mrs. A. J. Luke, who gave a dozen beautiful art books in memory of her father, the late A. E. W. Mills. These covered the work of Botticelli, Fra Angelico, Coreggio, Canaletto, Grinling Gibbons, &c. An item of historical interest was the Bible used by the Reverend William Bolland, the first vicar of St. Mary's, New Plymouth. This was sent out from London by his great-grandson, Mr. W. W. J. Bolland, and arrived not long before the celebrations of St. Mary's Centennial. The Church authorities were naturally interested to hear of the Bible, and the texts that Mr. Bolland had preached from for the services at the building and the opening of the church were used at the celebrations. These are, of course, only a few of the numerous individual donations that came to the Library in the course of the year. Publications were also received as gifts or on exchange from the University of Michigan, the University of Washington, the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University, the Claremont Colleges Library, California, and the Lloyd Library and Museum of Cincinnati. F. Photographic Collection Owing to the continued acquisition of interesting and valuable photographs, a start has been made to sort and catalogue the vast collection in the Library. This collection consists of several thousand negatives, plates, and prints on different subjects presented by different people, the largest being the Eileen Deste collection of approximately three thousand negatives and plates of the construction of the Social Security Building in 1940 and the Centennial Exhibition. Also there is the Halse collection taken during the late Victorian period, showing housing, costume, and views ; the Malcolm Ross collection of Maori studies and New Zealand views ; the Lavton collection of ship prints ; Tarawera eruption damage by W. Crompton Smith ; places of historical interest, by Russell Duncan ; and loose prints of New Zealand scenes taken last century, including such subjects as railways, engines, scenic reserves, Maori houses, and people, &c. There is also the collection of negatives and prints of illustrations in Centennial publications.

Approximate Cost of Paper.—Preparation, not given ; printing (480 copies), £15.

By Authority: E. V. Paul, Government Printer, Wellington.—l 944. Prize Oil]

9