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1915. NEW ZEALAND.

TOURIST AND HEALTH RESORTS DEPARTMENT (ANNUAL REPORT OF THE), BY THE MINISTER OF TOURIST AND HEALTH RESORTS, HON. R. HEATON RHODES.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

The Minister in Charge of Tourist and Health Resorts Department to His Excellency the Governor. My Lord,-' Wellington, Bth June, 1915. I have the honour to submit to Your Excellency the report of the Department of Tourist and Health Resorts for the year ended the 31st March, 1915. , I have, &c, R. Heaton Rhodes, Minister of Tourist and Health Resorts. His Excellency the Governor of New Zealand.

ANNUAL REPORT OF THE GENERAL MANAGER OP TOURIST AND HEALTH EESOETS. Sir, — Wellington, Bth June, 1915. I have the honour to submit herewith my report for the year ended the 31st March, 1915. I have, &c, B. M. Wilson, General Manager. The Hon. E. Heaton Ehodes, Minister of Tourist and Health fiesorts. It might naturally be expected that the world-wide war now raging would cause an almost absolute cessation of tourist traffic to and within New Zealand. It has certainly for the time stopped nearly all traffic from overseas, but the fact that the revenue of the Department from all sources compares favourably with other normal years goes to show that, despite the many heavy calls on them in other respects, the people of New Zealand have still largely availed themselves of the opportunities placed in their way of visiting and enjoying the scenic attractions and health resorts of New Zealand. Tho decision of the Union Steamship Company to curtail the service between Melbourne and the Bluff has also had a detrimental effect on the Australian traffic. In place of a weekly steamer there is now only a three-weekly service. The actual revenue for the year was £26,630, a decrease of £3,477 compared with the previous season —£30,107. I-H, 2,