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Session 11. 1923. NEW ZEALAND.

TOURIST AND HEALTH RESORTS DEPARTMENT (ANNUAL REPORT OF THE) BY THE MINISTER OF TOURIST AND HEALTH RESORTS, HON. W. NOSWORTHY.

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-General. My Lord,— Wellington, 30th June, 1923. I have the honour to submit to Your Excellency the report of the Department of Tourist and Health Resorts for the year ended 31st March, 1923. I have, &c, W. Nosworthy, Minister of Tourist and Health Resorts. His Excellency the Governor-General of New Zealand.

ANNUAL REPORT OF THE GENERAL MANAGER OF TOURIST AND HEALTH RESORTS. Sir,— Wellington, 29th June, 1923. I have the honour to submit my report for the year ended 31st March., 1923. I have, &c, B. M. Wilson, Genera] Manager. The Hon. W. Nosworthy, Minister of Tourist and Health Resorts. ANNUAL REPORT. The direct revenue from, all sources is less than last year by some £10,000 ; but this is met by a much larger decrease in expenditure of over £27,000. The total revenue for the year was £40,246, against £50,822 ; and the expenditure was £59,647, against £86,944 for the previous year. Both revenue and expenditure are, of course, affected by the leasing of the Hermitage in the Southern Alps from the Ist October last. A feature which, acted very detrimentally to the tourist traffic from Australia was the undue prominence given in papers there to the earthquakes in the vicinity of Taupo. These were greatly magnified in the Press of Australia, and stopped many intending visitors from coming to New Zealand. The local tourist traffic lias also naturally been affected by the fact of the general election taking place during one of our busiest seasons.