H.—2

Department to give a complete and satisfactory service to intending travellers. As in the previous year, the Department has continued to provide and directly control facilities at several scenic resorts vested in the Department. The more important of these are Waitomo Caves and Hostel; Rotorua Baths, Gardens, &c. ; Te Aroha Springs and Gardens ; Lake House, Waikaremoana ; Queenstown Gardens ; and Glade House, Milford Track. The vesting under the Department's control of an area ° a J ongariro National Park, on which is located the Chateau Tongariro, has already been referred to. So far as these activities may be expected to return a direct revenue, they have, of course, been detrimentally affected, in common with all hotel and similar undertakings, by the general fallin<*-ofl in traffic during the past year or two. Several of the other more important reserves which are vested in the Department have been leased, and unfortunately the lessees have in general been experiencing difficulty in carrying on. In many respects the Department is called upon to assist in improving the tourist facilities in the Dominion, and work of this nature has been done during the past year in many localities. The amount available for this class of work has, however, been reduced, and the only important undertaking of a developmental character now proceeding is the completion of the work of construction of the new Blue Bath buildings in Rotorua. Financial. i?Q revenue of tlle Department during the financial year under review was £58,876, a decrease of «n, oVer previous year, and the expenditure, including the Overseas Publicity Branch, was £91,951, as against £120,413 for the previous year. The following tables give details of revenue and expenditure for the past six years ; also the receipts and expenditure at the main tourist resorts :— Return of Receipts, 1926-32. 1926-27. 1927-28. 1928-29. 1929-30. 1930-31. 1931-32. tj.££ £ £ £ £ Receipts .. .. 61,674- 65,447 72,658 75,083 68,524 58,876 Return of Expenditure, 1926-32. 1926-27. 1927-28. 1928-29. 1929-30. 1930-31. 1931-32. £ £ £ £ £ £ Consolidated Fund .. 76,378 76,865 82,987 130,615* 120,413* 91 951* Public Works Fund .. 31,981 36,673 39,254 20,546 60,288 87,'609t of Clmteau U Tongariro^ itUre V6rSeaS Pu fr lioit y branch. -j- Largely represented by repayment of loans in respect Passenger Booking Branch—Ticket Sales.—l93o-31, £173,930 ; 1931-32, £241,415 : increase, £67,485. Sales, 1931-32, include Central Railway Booking-offices' sales at Auckland and Wellington.

Statement of Receipts and Expenditure at Main Resorts.

5

Year 1931-32. Year 1930-31. wf.fi a 2 Resort. § §, ■ C ° ° S. i i 5|.& "s n » ! -s-s, -s 1 : .& | ®|§ gjg a I ®€-s ° . 8 a 'S | S g & 8 > § j % m p,« g o« g a mq-MSo-S 03 H Kl H H H jjq T A , £ f ! £ £ £ £ £ £ TeAroha .. .. .. 1,133 3,004 1,871 .. 1,244 3,541 2,297 Rotorua .. .. .. 35,475 31,642 .. 3,833 38,367 39,'330 '963 Waitomo Caves .. .. 7,322 6,651 .. 67.1 10,352 8,391 .. 1 961 Lake House, Waikaremoana .. 2,096 2,834 738 .. 2,491 3,585 1 094 Queenstown .. .. .. 256 602 346 .. '223 '735 'ōl2 Glade House and Milford Track .. 1,564 4,364 2,800 .. 2,845 7.179 4 334 Morere Hot Springs .. .. 450 316 .. 134 'ō39 394 145 Passenger-booking bureaux .. 8,743 11,762 3,019 .. 7,893 12/296 4 403