H.—22

5

Owing to the contractors for the supply of headstones being unable to obtain granite from the quarries at Coromandel, the output of completed headstones almost ceased for some months, and the number of graves to be permanently marked has therefore been much lower than was anticipated. Although headstones were not available in the numbers required, the work of providing the graves with concrete kerbing, ore., was continued, and excellent progress in this direction was made. The number of headstones ordered during the year was 478, bringing the total since the work began to 1,121. The number of headstones erected during the year was 194, which brings the total to date to 612. Pending the carrying-out of permanent work, wooden crosses were placed on the 112 additional war graves accepted during the period. The cemeteries in which permanent work, including the erection of headstones, was completed is as follows (the number of graves being shown in parenthesis) : Auckland District —Waikaraka (2), O'Neill's Point (1), Purewa (2), Motuihi Island (1), Bombay (1), Waiuku (3), Kaikapakapa (1), Papakura (2), Rotoroa Island (1), Tuakau (1), St. Andrew's Churchyard (1). Hawke's Bay District —Taradale (4), Wairoa (6), Main Trunk district —Te Kuiti (4), Taumarunui (1). Wellington District — Martinborough (2), Taita (3), Trentham (2), Petone (3). Canterbury District —Sydenham (45), Bromley (25), Tuahiwi (5), Papanui (1), Kaiapoi (2), Brookside (2), Fairlie (1), West Oxford (1), Timaru (8), Geraldine (2), Waimate (8), Temuka (6), Hororata (1), Glenavy (1), Brookside Churchyard (1), Linwood (27), Methven (1), Ashburton (14), Springston (1). West-land District —Kumara (1). In addition to the above, contracts were entered into and permanent work partly completed in eighty-six cemeteries containing 388 war graves. War Graves Abroad. —The work of erecting headstones on war graves in the various theatres of the war, at ports of call and at bases, which has been entrusted to the Imperial War Graves Commission, has been completed in Egypt (475 graves in 8 cemeteries), Palestine (238 graves in 9 cemeteries), Gallipoli (405 graves in 22 cemeteries), Gibraltar (9 graves), Greece (2 graves), Arabia (1 grave), Malta (73 graves in 3 cemeteries), Mesopotamia (4 graves), South America (2 graves), Switzerland (3 graves), United Kingdom (368 graves in 17 cemeteries), France and Belgium (1,305 graves in 29 cemeteries) : total, 2,885 graves in 95 cemeteries. Expenditure on this work for the year was approximately £28,300. The total completed since the work began is 4,001 graves in 149 cemeteries, these figures applying only to cemeteries in which New-Zealanders are buried. New Zealand's total expenditure on this work is approximately £121,000. Publicity. The activities of this office have increased to a great extent in each of its branches. Probably the greatest development can be recorded in the preparation of cinematograph-film. To meet the incessant demands from every part of the Dominion it was found essential to obtain the services of an additional operator. Some 39,000 ft. of new negative was obtained, while since the fulfilment of the requirements of the British Empire Exhibition over 46,000 ft. of film has been despatched to London, partly for the use of the High Commissioner for lecture purposes and partly for the second session of the Exhibition. The standard of the film and the large quantity being received has been very favourably commented on by the High Commissioner. When the year closed arrangements were in hand for the building of 40,000 ft. of film for the use of the American Fleet, 30,000 ft. for the Dunedin Exhibition, and 10,000 ft. for showing throughout New Zealand. Short lengths of negative film of. a pictorial nature have frequently been despatched to the Publicity Officer in London, and these have been disposed of at a remunerative figure to film exchanges. Heavy demands were made on the photographic branch for the supply of whole-plate prints, enlargements, and lantern-slides. The visit of the New Zealand Football team to England was taken advantage of as an advertising medium, and an album of pictures was prepared for each member of the team. Albums were also prepared for the Samoan Faipules who visited this Dominion during the year, while several others were presented to distinguished visitors. Altogether 10,000 photographs, 700 enlargements, and 3,500 lantern-slides were prepared for publicity purposes, in addition to work done for other Departments. A large number of coloured panoramic enlargements were purchased for display in overseas hotels. The Department's already large collection of negatives was added to to the extent of 1,000 new photographs. The Department's Agents in Australia, Canada, United States of America, and Africa were authorized to have photographs framed for display in hotels, shipping, offices, &e., which form of publicity promises good results. In addition to the finalizing of the Wembley Exhibition requirements in the way of booklets and folders, two new publications were completed. The reopening of the Exhibition necessitated the reprinting of four tourist folders and four farming booklets, which delayed the issue of publications required by the office for other purposes. Every advantage was taken of the visit of the British Service Squadron to distribute large quantities of literature. On the completion of the work caused by the Wembley Exhibition the office was able to devote its energies to the preparation of new booklets (of which several are now in hand), and the opening-up of new channels of distribution for its propaganda, and the mailing-list has now been increased to 600 persons, including Government Agents, shipping and railway companies, hotels, libraries, newspapers, &c., in England, Australia, Canada, America, South Africa, France, Belgium, Switzerland, China, Japan, India, Honolulu, Fiji, and Strait Settlements, to whom regular supplies of material are regularly sent. The inquiries from prospective immigrants numbered 540, and are steadily on the increase. In addition to the rapidly increasing volume of correspondence, the growing importance of the office is evident from the extensive number of interviews, of which many are by overseas journalists gleaning information for publication abroad. The activities of the Publicity Officer in London are evident from the number of articles appearing in a vast number of daily and weekly publications throughout England. These articles were supplemented by a number sent forward from New Zealand.