H.—IS

Balance-sheet. Whilst discussion of the payments and receipts position over a period of years correctly represents the effort of the Department to pay its way it is misleading as to the net financial result, and may lead to the suggestion that the Department is overcharging for services rendered. Subject, therefore, to what I have already said as to readjustment of capital assessment, it is necessary, in order that the position may be completely understood, to submit a statement which takes into consideration interest, sinking fund, and depreciation charges. The following statements of expenditure and revenue, which include these charges, shows the position over the years 1921-22 to 1924-25, both in regard to general departmental accounts and Westport Harbour Account

Harbour-works. During the last session four Harbour Board Bills were promoted : — New Plymouth. —This Bill proposed to give the Board authority to increase the loan indebtedness of the Board and district by £300,000, the main object being to increase harbour facilities and improve conditions for overseas ships. As no particulars whatever had been furnished to the Department as to the works proposed or as to their necessity, the Bill was tentatively opposed before the Local Bills Committee in order to reveal full particulars. The promoters demonstrated to the Committee that the Board's operations in the past had been financially successful in that no rate had been struck since 1908 ; that considerable saving would result to the district from increased direct import and export; that greatly increased import and export could be confidently anticipated by reason of completion within reasonable time of the Stratford - Main Trunk line ; that the Board would be justified, should it be necessary, in increasing charges on shipping by reason of improved facilities and elimination of delays ; that the Board was reasonably justified in supposing that when all charges for the additional loan became payable, there would still be no necessity to have recourse to special rating on the harbour district.

4

Expenditure. 1921-22. 1922-23. 1923-24. 1924-26. j £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. Head Office .. .. .. .. 10,728 17 3 9,612 2 8 8,574 3 2 9,292 7 4 Harbours.. .. .. .. .. 3,585 18 2 4,826 13 2 3,739 17 5 3,921 2 11 Lighthouses .. .. .. .. 31,409 15 1 26,995 19 5 25,302 19 4 26,823 6 5 Meteorological .. .. .. .. 3,857 2 3 5,374 0 3 5,572 6 2 5,863 19 2 Mercantile marine .. .. .. .. 16,292 11 0 15,150 17 11 16,585 15 1 17,896 11 0 Inspection of machinery .. .. .. 28,778 10 10 27,015 0 0 25,802 1 2 26,124 16 11 Fisheries .. .. .. .. .. 6,068 6 0 4,545 3 2 3,743 11 8 2,890 13 10 Government steamers .. .. .. 37,199 5 2 21,697 19 6 22,819 8 9 21,837 5 4 Miscellaneous services .. .. .. 4.239 6 9 2,655 3 8 3,939 7 5 1,734 3 1 Grants and subsidies .. .. .. 4,626 7 8 1,510 0 0 900 0 0 150 0 0 Depreciation .. .. .. .. 7,826 13 10 8,035 4 9 7,911 18 8 8,844 18 9 Interest on capital.. .. .. .. 21,007 10 9 15,716 7 3 17,471 16 8 17,737 15 7 Totals—General Accounts .. .. .. 175,620 4 9 143,134 11 9 142,363 5 6 143,117 0 4 Westport Harbour Account .. .. .. 59,959 7 I 51,795 19 3 47,213 7 10 43,602 5 11 Totals .. .. .. .. 235,579 11 10 194,930 11 0 189,576 13 4 186,719 6 3 Revenue. | 1921-22. | 1922-23. | 1923-24. J 1924-25. ? | Shipping and Seamen Act — £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. Light dues .. .. .. .. 41,311 9 6 39,688 16 8 ! 76,867 15 6 80,467 6 2 Engagement and discharge fees, &c. .. 3,698 6 6 4,107 15 6 j 4,026 15 5 4,155 5 8 Survey fees .. .. .. .. 3,538 7 10 3,095 9 0 4,785 2 6 5,010 0 4 Examination fees .. .. .. 585 12 8 395 12 6 369 12 0 417 5 0 Miscellaneous .. .. .. .. 1,076 5 1 1,289 0 4 1,389 8 0 1,175 6 3 Harbours Act— Pilotage, port charges, &c. .. .. 647 15 6 764 14 6 768 13 1 842 18 7 Foreshore revenue .. .. .. 1,165 12 6 1,126 14 1 2,909 0 4 4,393 19 1 Inspection of Machinery Act — Inspection fees, &c. .. .. .. 17,382 12 11 17,126 19 0 16,125 11 2 17,256 2 10 Examination fees .. .. .. 601 16 9 618 0 0 634 18 0 648 18 0 Fisheries Net profit from sale of oysters .. .. 2,741 4 7 2,546 9 6 2,310 19 9 2,139 10 1 Fishing-boat license fees, &c. . . .. 323 15 0 324 9 6 627 14 1 365 4. 9 Rental of toheroa-beds .. .. .. 10 0 0 10 0 0 300 0 0 300 0 0 Tramways Act — Examination fees .. .. .. 57 0 0 49 0 0 104 0 0 84 0 0 Government steamers — Freight, passage-money, &c. .. .. 6,026 4 4 1,785 0 7 2,788 1 8 4,793 0 10 Miscellaneous revenue .. .. .. 22 19 11 1,872 6 10 2,050 4 4 1,273 19 7 Totals—General Accounts .. .. .. 79,189 3 1 74,800 8 0 116,057 5 10 123,322 17 2 Westport Harbour Account .. .. .. 26,340 16 5 38,196 10 11 42,285 7 4 50,378 11 0 Totals .. .. .. .. 105,529 19 6 112,996 18 11 158,342 13 2 173,701 8 2