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1924. NEW ZEALAND.

KAURI-GUM INDUSTRY (REPORT ON THE) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1924.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly pursuant to Section 5 of the Kauri-gum Industry Amendment Act, 1914.

Sir, — Department of Lands and Survey, Wellington, 21st July, 1924. I have the honour to submit herewith the annual report under the Kauri-gum Industry Amendment Act, 1914, for the year ended 31st March, 1924. I have, &c, J. B. Thompson, Under-Secretary. The Hon. A. D. McLeod, Minister of Lands.

EEPORT OF THE KAURI-GUM SUPERINTENDENT. Export of Kauri-gum. For the year ended 31st March, 1924, the export amounted to 6,923 tons, of the value of £640,712, an average price of £92 per ton, the average price per ton last year being £85, and £98 for 1922. Both the tonnage and value of kauri-gum exported is the largest since the war. This has been of little benefit to any particular section of the industry in New Zealand. Prices have been poor all round. The majority of the diggers barely made a living, and competition was keen enough to prevent exporters and dealers in Auckland from showing anything in the way of profit. Considering the value exported it was one of the leanest years for a long time.

Particulars of Kauri-gum exported from New Zealand from 1913 to 31st March, 1924, inclusive.

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Country to which exported. 1! US. 1914. 115. 1st Ji 31st Mi inuary to 1st Apri irch, 1916. 31st Ma: 11, 1916, to 1st Api irch, 1917. 31st Mi :ll, 1917, to irch, 1018. Tons. 3,995 £ 308,450 Tons. 4,531 £ 310,200 Tons. 3,312 £ 222,856 Tons. 974 £ 60,010 Tons. 3,158 £ 218,214 Tons. 2,310 £ 164,516 Unitod Statos of America Unitod Kingdom Germany Canada Australia Belgium Franco Austria-Hungary Russia Netherlands Sweden Italy .. Japan Hong Kong 3,390 833 62 80 126 45 112 53 60 15 9 187,547 27,880 4,618 3,933 5,120 3,995 2,617 1,725 2,495 420 300 3,335 373 70 19 34 42 14 3 8 20 23 1 148,370 21,193 2,114 1,720 1,519 3,599 329 225 664 . 560 855 96 1,172 50 9 5 48,585 4,550 594 430 330 1.18 5 13,548 8,972 314 1,484 I "viS\ 29 68,378 7,718 1,982 363 1,929 18 13,982 124,271 1,577 21 2,118 50 3^440 "539 10 500 8 Totals .. 8,780 549,100 8,473 497,444] 4,575 279,133 1,433 82,844 4,862 300,271 4,036 304,852