H.— 2

19-24. NEW ZEALAND.

DEPARTMENT OF TOURIST AND HEALTH RESORTS (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.

Tho Minister in Charge of Tourist and Health Resorts Department to His Excellency the Governor-General. My Lord, — Wellington, 2nd June, 1924. 1 have the honour to submit to Your Excellency the report of the Department of Tourist and Health Resorts for the year ended 31st March, 1924. I have, Ate, W. Noswoimiy, Minister of Tourist and. Health Resorts. His Excellency the Governor-General of New Zealand.

ANNUAL REPORT OF THE GENERAL MANAGER OK TOURIST AND HEALTH RESORTS. Sir,— Wellington, Ist May, 1924. I have the honour to submit my report for the year ended 31st March, J924. I have, &c, B. M. Wilson, General Manager. The Hon. W. Nosworthy, Minister of Tourist and Health Resorts. ANNUAL REPORT. On the whole the Department has had one of the most successful and busy seasons in its history, and is steadily growing in public popularity. In accordance with instructions received from you. every effort has been made during the past few seasons to curtail expenditure, consistent with adequate management and maintenance of our tourist resorts. The expenditure during the past year amounted to £60,445, as against £59,647 for the previous year, a slight increase of £798, whereas the receipts from all sources totalled £45,704, as against £40,246 for the previous year, an increase of £5,458. The excess of expenditure over receipts for the; past year, £14,741, is, with the exception of the year 1916-17, the lowest on record since the inception of the Department, and is a decrease of £28,000 on that of the year showing the greatest excess, 1920-21. In the past four years the expenditure has been decreased by £33,275. The passenger-booking system continues to maintain its popularity, and the Department has had a busy time during the year attending to the many inquiries regarding tho various tourist resorts. The bureaux in the various centres have been largely used by visitors and our own people, who appreciate the value of the information supplied and the conveniences afforded them. In this connection it may be of interest to you to know that since the inauguration of the scheme the amount of cash taken in the Department's bureaux in New Zealand has amounted to £664,824. During the year the Department made an innovation by opening a bureau on the west coast of the South Island, and an officer has been stationed at Greymouth in suitable premises. The results so.far have been quite encouraging, and on the success or otherwise of this agency will depend further similar extensions in other parts of New Zealand. Various motor companies—mostly in tho South Island —have combined together to further the tourist traffic to New Zealand, and it is understood that representatives of the combination will in the near future tour Great Britain, United States of America, Franco, and other world centres with an exceptionally fine selection of moving pictures depicting the scenic attractions of New Zealand. The Department is co-operating in every possible way with, this organization, whose efforts are sure to result in a much increased number of tourists to New Zealand. As mentioned elsewhere, we are setting our house in order by increasing the, accommodation at our resorts. We have, of course,