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REPORT OF NIUE ISLAND ADMINISTRATION. Niue, Ist April, 1925. Finance. The year eommenced with a credit balance of £1,212 3s. 6d. Revenue for the year was low, totalling only £3,598 65., of which Customs duties provided £1,722 17s. 4d., copra export duty £651 7s. 6d., and aid to revenue £489 10s. Expenditure was therefore watched very closely, and totals £3,449 ss. 7d., leaving a credit balance of £1,361 3s. lid. at tfhe 31st March. It is anticipated that revenue for the coming year will amount to about the same sum. The fruit trade, which will provide indirectly an increased revenue in the future, is as yet too small to have an effect. Given a suitable steamer in the contract service there should, however, be signs of this increase before the end of the year. Statement op Revenue and Expenditure por the Year ended 31st March, 1925. Revenue. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. Balance in hand on Ist April, 1924 .. 1,212 3 6 Ammunition Account .. .. ..Dr. 10 3 7 Aid to revenue .. .. .. 489 10 0 Education .. .. .. .. 118 19 9 Copra export duty .. .. .. 651 7 6 Foreman, Public Works .. .. 250 0 0 Custom duties .. .. .. 1,722 17 4 Furniture, officers' quarters .. .. 37 811 Dog-tax .. .. .. .. 44 15 0 Government buildings upkeep .. .. 202 15 2 Fruit Inspection Account .. .. 18 4 4 Interpreters .. .. .. .. 120 0 0 High Court fees and fines .. .. 169 18 9 Jetty .. .. .. .. 27 16 2 Licenses .. .. .. .. 190 0 0 Library .. .. .. .. 717 6 Liquor Account .. .. .. Cr. 11 12 3 Medical service .. .. ~ 1,004 1 1 Native Land Court fees .. .. 5 10 0 Miscellaneous services .. .. .. 153 11 11 Registration fees .. .. .. 18 3 0 Niue Island Council .. .. .. 58 15 0 Stamp sales .. .. .. ■. 276 12 10 Police .. .. .. 340 18 5 Printing and stationery .. .. 36 11 0 Prisoners, food, and supervision .. 141 4 11 Rent, officers' quarters .. .. 18 0 0 Reservoirs .. .. .. .. 221 14 7 Roads .. .. .. .. 363 8 8 Transport .. .. .. .. 228 1 9 Wireless Account .. .. .. Dr. 101 17 4 Balance — £ s. d. Cash in hand .. 778 3 4 Bank of New Zealand 583 0 7 1,361 3 11 £4,810 9 6 £4,810 9 6 Shipping. Only eight vessels visited Niue during the year. The contract steamer " Rama " made three trips, the s.s. " Tutanekai," s.s. " Waikawa," and the mission steamer " John Williams " called once each, and the warships " Dunedin " and " Laburnum " both paid their annual visits to Niue. It is interesting to note that for the first time in the history of the island the shipping includes no sailingvessels. The advent of a steamer service which made possible a trade with New Zealand in bananas and other fruit was hailed with delight by the Natives. Nevertheless the change brought its difficulties. In the past schooners have called regularly at Tuapa and Avatele as well as Alofi, and land transport was never a serious matter. With the steamer service all copra must come to Alofi, and in addition the Natives in the farther villages complained that they had no adequate transport for bananas. The traders have some vehicles available, but these were by no means able to cope with the altered situation, and the traders were loath to invest in new transport until the continuity of the steamer service was assured. The New Zealand Government has met this difficulty by presenting this Administration with a motor-truck, and a second one is to come to hand at an early date. These trucks will carry bananas for the Native growers at a nominal fee, and between times will be employed in carrying copra and in roadwork. The land transport problem is thus solved for the present. The Natives are aware that part of their profits from bananas must be put aside to purchase vehicles for themselves. The ill luck which has latterly attended the Niue contract service vessels continued, the "Rama " being wrecked at the Chatham Islands towards the end of the year. The final trip of the year was therefore made by the " Tutanekai," and I wish to express on behalf of the island our gratitude for the promptness with which this emergency was met. Trade. Imports for the year 1924 totalled £16,798, as against £18,388 for 1923. Exports, all of which went to New Zealand, amounted to £14,608, as against £13,227 in 1923. The main items of export were —copra, 652 tons ; bananas, 1,211 cases ; hats, 2,529J dozen. Probably owing to excessive rainfall the copra crop was poorer than usual, and a large quantity of nuts were also spoilt by rain during drying. To avoid a recurrence of this loss a proposal to build small driers in different villages is under consideration. These would be handed over to the Natives to be worked by themselves and without fee. Prospects for the coming season are bright, as the trees are bearing well, and there has been no " blow " to throw them back. The banana trade which was inaugurated during the year is destined to make a tremendous difference in the progress and prosperity of the Niueans, Each successive shipment during the year

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