8.—6

V

Payments from Public Account. ~ , ', T . , Increase Number or Increase Amount. iqiq_lzL Vouchers, over 1913-14. £ oVel ia ' 1913-14 .... 196,455 .... 17,106,489 1919-20 .... 377,859 181,404 87,596,662 70,490,173 1920-21 .... 352,319 155,864 73,275,613 56,169,124 The administrative work connected with payment of Imperial pensions, the care and treatment of disabled Imperial soldiers, and matters relating to the pay and allowances of members of the Naval, Military, and Civil Services from all parts of the Empire, which has grown considerably, has now been taken over by the Pensions Department. As the result of the change a considerable economy will be effected. CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT. The estimated revenue from Customs duties, including excise beer duty, for the year ended 31st March last, as compared with the amount actually realized and with the amount collected for the previous year, is as set forth hereunder, viz. :— Estimated Reve- Amount realized, In Excess of Amount collected, nue, 1920-21. 1920-21. Estimate. 1919-20. £ £ £ £ Customs .... 6,000,000 8,408,726 2,408,726 4,830,324 Excise beer 360,000 360,525 525 , 355,403 Totals .... £6,360,000 £8,769,251 £2,409,251 £5,185,727 When the estimate for 1920-21 was made it was anticipated that many delayed orders would come to hand and that there would be a revenue greatly in excess of that of any previous year The estimate was accordingly fixed at £6,360,000 for Customs and Excise beer duty, being over £1,000,000 in excess of the amount realized for 1919-20. As will be seen from the figures, this generous estimate was greatly exceeded, and it is now evident that the quantity and value of the delayed orders have been much in excess of what was expected. The delay was so great in some cases that the delivery of goods was not desired, owing to the fall in prices since the orders were placed. The number of gallons of beer brewed during the financial year 1920-21 was 14,926,626 gallons, and the average duty per gallon was 5-796 d. This is an increase of 376,550 gallons over the year 1919-20. The values of imports and exports during the past four financial years are as follows : — Imports. Exports. £ £ 1917-18 .... .... .... 20,983,612 31,298,270 1918-19 .... ..... .... 26,437,284 32,263,792 1919-20 .... .... .... 32,162,029 50,776,650 1920-21 .... .... .... 67,463,269 48,219,672 The import values represent the fair market value in the country of exportation, plus 10 per cent. Owing to high freights, the actual landed cost considerably exceeds these values. The export values are the f.o.b. values. It will be noted that during the last financial year the value of imports has, for the first time in many years, exceeded that of our exports, and to the extent of over £19,000,000. An analysis of the imported goods shows that the proportion received from Great Britain is 46-4 per cent, of the total value, as against 37-5 per cent, last year and 51-5 per cent, in 1914. The United States has increased from 11-6 per cent, in 1914 to 19-1 per cent. in 1920, while the trade with Japan has dropped from 4-3 per cent, in 1919 to 2-5 per cent, in 1920. It is evident from these percentages that the imports from Great Britain have been inflated by the fulfilment of delayed orders already referred to.