8.—6

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sanction. Accordingly the Department has made representations in many directions witli the object of assisting New Zealand importers to secure the execution and shipment of orders placed abroad, tt is satisfactory to state that the representations made have, in all -but exceptional cases, been favourably considered by the authorities to whom they have been addressed. The total number of applications dealt with was 7,500, representing a value of £3,059,700. WAR RELIEF FUNDS. During the past financial year the public has contributed most liberally to the various overseas relief funds, and the Sick and Wounded Soldiers' Funds administered in the Dominion have been maintained at a standard sufficient to meet the everincreasing calls upon them. The amounts contributed through the Government by the people of the Dominion to the various relief funds arc as follow :— For the Year ended For tin: Period since the 31st March, 1918. Outbreak of War. £ £ Belgian Belief Fund .. .. 5,991 311,121 Other Belgian Funds .. .. 3,650 6,436 For other Allies .. .. .. 4,018 22,357 Civil relief in Great Britain .. 4,593 11,786 British lied Cross Fund .. .. 116,668 187,422 British Navy Relief .. .. 5,787 98,238 New Zealand Hospital Ship Fund . . I. i>4 63,747 New Zealand Comforts Fund .. 56,879 128,277 New Zealand War Relief Fund . . 702 15,980 For equipment (aeroplanes, ambulances, &c.) .. .. .. 1,500 9,403 For regimental funds .. .. 2,325 2,730 For local war funds .. .. 76 7,640 For sundry overseas funds . . 990 1,477 Total voluntary subscriptions .. 203,379 8(30,620 (i overnment contribution to Belgian Relief Funds .. .. .. 228,145 Total .. ..£203,379 £1,094,765 The above figures do not represent the total contributions from the Dominion, as the value in cash and goods contributed by private individuals or institutions and forwarded direct is not ascertainable. The total amount raised by patriotic societies in the Dominion since the outbreak of war: to the 31st March, 1918, reached £3,806,221, of which £1,695,766 remained in the hands of societies. This latter sum was invested principally in connection with relief for sick and wounded soldiers and their dependants, the demands on which will increase rapidly with the return of the men now on active service. The estimated value of goods, stock, produce, and comforts shipped overseas by the Internal Affairs Department on behalf of donors to the 31st March, 1918, amounted to £502,181. MINING The value of minerals produced in the Dominion during .1.917 was £2,589,817, and the value of minerals exported during the same period was £2,496,870, these figures being respectively £297,018 and £482,105 less than those of the previous year. Taking into consideration the great disadvantage under which the mining industry has been carried out during 1917, the fourth year of the war, the production of minerals has been well maintained. The decline is chiefly due to the shortage of labour and the cessation of operations at many small gold-mining claims owing to the increased cost of everything employed in the production of gold, while the value of gold has remained stationary.