£;—6

Imperial Pensions. During the war period the work of this branch of the Treasury, which covers not only the payment of Imperial pensions but practically all matters of a financial nature connected with the pay and allowances of members of the Naval, Military, and Civil Services from all parts of the Empire, was increased considerably. Provision was made last year for payment of the difference between the Imperial and the New Zealand rates of pay, allowances, and gratuity to persons domiciled in New Zealand who served with the Imperial Naval, Army, and Air Forces during the war; and up to the 31st March last 1,440 claims, aggregating .£191,883, have been paid. Distbict Teeasuby Office, Auckland. Owing to the great increase in the work of the Treasury, and with a view to affording local facilities for the prompt settlement of claims against Government Departments, a District Treasury Office has been established in Auckland. This departure should prove a decided advantage to the public, in that accounts within the district may be paid without reference to Wellington, an additional benefit being the provision of a continuous local audit. I intend to establish similar offices in other centres as occasion may arise. (TUSTOMS DEPAETMENT. The estimated revenue from Customs, including excise beer duty, for the year ended 31st March, 1920, as compared with the amount actually realized, is as set forth below, viz.:— Estimated Eeve- Amount realized, In Excess of nue, 1919-20. 1919-20. Estimate. £ £ £ Customs .... 4,400,000 4,830,324 430,324 Excise beer .... 270,000 355,403 85,403 Totals .... £4,670,000 £5,185,727 £515,727 This is the first time in the history of the Dominion that the revenues of Customs and Excise have exceeded £5,000,000. The increase may be attributed to two causes : first, the replenishment of stocks and increased tonnage received, due to the free resumption of trade relations with all countries except late enemy countries; and, second, to the greatly increased values of goods subject to ad valorem duties. The cost of collection is 1-| per cent. The number of gallons of beer brewed totalled 14,550,07(1. This gives an average duty per gallon of 5 - 86 d. The quantity brewed for the previous financial year was 11,169,920 gallons; average duty per gallon, 5 - 87 d. The values of imports and exports for the past four financial years are as follow :— Imports. Exports. £ £ 1916-17 .... .... .... 26,162,706 30,538,466 1917-18 ... .... .... 20,983,612 31,298,270 1918-19 .... ... .... 26,437,284 32,263,792 1919-20 .... .... ....• 32,162,029 50,776,600 It should be noted that the import values are based upon the fair market value in the country of exportation, plus 10 per cent. This is the value for ad valorem and primage duties. The true landed cost is probably 20 per cent, in advance of the figures shown, owing to high freights. The export values are the f.o.b. values. An analysis of the value of goods, regarded according to origin, shows that the proportion received from Great Britain is 37 - 5 per cent, of the total, as against 359 per cent, last year and 51 - 5 per cent, in 1914. The United States has increased from 116 per cent, in .1.914 to 203 per cent, in 1919, and Japan has increased for the same periods from IT per cent, to 43 per cent.

V