H.—22

6

Passports. The opening of the British Empire Exhibition during April was responsible for the issue of an abnormal number of passports during the months of January, February, and March. Passports issued for the year total 4,325, which is considerably in excess of any previous year. The number of passports renewed has also increased, the total for the year being 1,493. The abolition of the visa system is being gradually extended, and arrangements have now been concluded whereby British subjects do not require a foreign visa to visit the following-named countries : Belgium, Denmark, France, Italy, Luxemburg, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. The maximum, visa fee charged by the majority of the remaining countries is 10s., which is the standard maximum British charge. In a few cases the fee is much in excess of the British maximum standard, and in these the right is reserved and exercised to charge an equivalent sum for a British visa. Gaming Act. Raffles. —Numerous applications for permission to dispose of works of art, &c, have! been dealt with and licenses issued in accordance with section 42. Many organizations which exist solely for the benefit of a community have; represented the difficulty obtaining in raising money by disposing of works of art by raffles. They have expressed the opinion that permits should be granted to raffle real or personal property when the objective is charity. Distinguished Visitors. Official visitors to the Dominion included the; Overseas Immigration Delegation, the Japanese Training Squadron under command of Admiral Saito, the H.M.A.S. " Melbourne " (Commander Addison), and the French Sloop " Aldcbaran " (Commander Husson). In each case, appreciation was expressed of the reception and entertainment arrangements made by this Department, with the whole-hearted co-operation of other Departments of State. Soldiers and Historical Graves. Veterans' and Historical Graves. —Attention has been directed during the year to locating graves of the Maori War situated in the back country, and where necessary these have been marked with neat wooden crosses pending the erection of headstones of a design yet to be selected. Permanent work consisting of concrete kerbing and flooring was completed on the Naval graves in the historical churchyard at Russell, Bay of Islands, and arrangements completed for similar work at Onepoto, on the shores of Lake Waikaremoana, and in the old Native cemetery at Gisborne. Renovations have been carried out where necessary and small annual grants made for the maintenance of graves " adopted " by the Government. The Department has record of .1,347 veterans and historical graves contained in 148 cemeteries. War Graves (in Neiv Zealand and Mandated Territory). —The number of notifications of deaths of ex-members of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force during the year was 265, of which number ninety-four were accepted as war graves. Pending the erection of universal headstones ninety-two wooden crosses were erected on soldiers' graves in various parts of the Dominion. The total number of burials recorded up to the 31st March was 3,144, and of this number f ,985 are deemed to be war graves. Permanent work consisting of concrete kerbing and flooring and the erection of universal headstones of Coromandel granite was completed in the following cemeteries, the number of graves being shown in parenthesis : Waikaraka (24), Waikumete (122), Purewa (42), Birkenhead (3), Swanson (1), Otahuhu (5), Mangere (1), and Apia, Samoa (11). Total, 209. Contracts entered into and partly completed are —Martinborough (2), Sydenham (41), Bromley (25), Addington (5), Tuahiwi (5), and Motuihi Island (1). Total, 79. Headstones ordered during the year number 256, bringing the total of headstones ordered since the work commenced in December, 1921, up to 533. The total number of headstones erected to date is 418. War Graves (Overseas). —All work in connection with British war graves overseas is carried out by the Imperial War Graves Commission, each Dominion paying its contribution of the total cost. For the year ended 31st December, 1923, New Zealand's contribution was approximately £30,000, bringing the total expenditure for the Dominion, since the work commenced, to £92,691. Permanent work in cemeteries in which New Zealand soldiers are buried has been completed as follows, the number of graves being shown in parenthesis : — France : Abbeville Communal (1) ; Abbeville Communal Cemetery Extension (33) ; Aire Communal Cemetery (1) ; Allery Communal Cemetery, Hallencourt (1) ; Aubigny Communal Cemetery Extension (2) ; Auchonvillers British Cemetery (22) ; Auxi-le-Chateau Churchyard (1) ; Bagneux British Cemetery, Gazaincourt (181) ; Bertrancourt Military Cemetery (26) ; Boisguillaume Communal Cemetery, Rouen (7) ; Calais Southern Cemetery (12) ; Courcelles-au-Bois Communal Cemetery Extension (5) ; Dainville Communal Cemetery (1) ; Daours Communal Cemetery Extension (1) ; Doullens Communal Cemetery Extension No. 2 (28) ; Esquelbecq Military Cemetery (4) ; Etratat Churchyard (3) ; Forceville Communal Cemetery Extension (2) ; Gezaincourt Communal Cemetery Extension (40) ; Grove Town British Cemetery, near Meaulte (1) ; Gunners' Farm Military Cemetery, Ploegsteert (1) ; Habarcq Communal Cemetery Extension (2) ; Hedauville Communal Cemetery Extension (9) ; Hondeghem Churchyard (2) ; Les Barques Military Cemetery Sengatte (4); Louvencourt Military Cemetery **■ (17) ; Mailly-Maillet Communal Cemetery Extension (3) ; Maple-leaf Cemetery, Romarin (43) ; Millencourt Communal Cemetery Extension (7) ; Milinghem Communal Cemetery (1) ; Mont Huon Military Cemetery, Le Treport (33); Motor-car Corner Military Cemetery, Ploegsteert (81); Ouchevillers