H.—22

for that purpose, and to which the Imperial and Dominion Governments contributed in proportion to the number of graves of their dead. In addition to maintenance, structural repairs were completed on the New Zealand Battle Exploit Memorials at Longueval (Somme) and Chunuk Bair (Gallipoli). War Funds. The activities of the various patriotic organizations throughout the Dominion have for some years been of a routine nature. With the passage of time, however, the need and calls for relief are shown to be increasing, due in the main to the breakdown of ex-soldiers who were discharged as fit. There are still fifty-seven societies open and they administer assets amounting in the aggregate to £738,867 14s. 2d. In addition, the National War Funds Council has £136,735 7s. lOd. under its control. Details are as follows :— £ s. d. Twenty-eight incorporated societies .. .. .. .. 519,418 6 0 Seven Red Cross Organizations .. .. . . . . 106,330 4 2 Three Blind Soldiers' and Veterans' Homes Funds . . . . 72,639 14 10 Fourteen unincorporated societies .. .. .. . . 8,930 6 4 Six Returned Soldiers' Clubs (one is part of an incorporated society) 31,549 210 738,867 14 2 National War Funds Council .. .. .. .. 136,735 710 £875,603 2 0 Although the total appears to be high, it should be noted that a large proportion of the assets are represented by loans to soldiers, disabled soldiers' homes, farm property (Flock House), and other fixed assets, and that for various reasons a considerable number of loans will eventually require to be written off. The experience of the years seems to show that the policy of conservation of funds has been a wise one, and that relief for ex-soldiers will be needed for some considerable time to come. Totalizator Inspection. The practice of having a representative at each totalizator meeting has been continued. While a number of clubs are adhering to the " Win and Place " system of investments, others have reverted to the one-pool system. Some clubs are not availing themselves of the days allotted to them, and these days are being loaned to other clubs. Raffles. Four hundred and eighty-six licenses under the authority of section 42 of the Gaming Act, 1908, were issued during the year. Of these 406 were for works of art, 63 for small amounts of alluvial gold, and 7 for alluvial gold to the value of £4,000. The following table discloses the financial results of the seven large alluvial-gold art unions. The aggregate net profit amounted to £64,059 Bs. 7d. after making provision for lottery duty, totalling £14,944 10s.

Of the net profits, £34,500 was distributed to local Mayor's or other officially recognized central funds for the relief of distress, and £13,300 was paid to a number of organizations rendering social relief in some form or other, whilst the balance was allotted to various bodies carrying on services of community value. Fire Brigades Act. The City of Nelson was declared to be a fire district, and the number of Fire Boards now operating stands at 54. Legislation was enacted to enable the Borough of Martinborough to become a fire district, subject to the proposal being carried by the ratepayers, although the population was less than is ordinarily required by statute. Explosives and Dangerous Goods. Licenses.- —Importation licenses were as follows : Gelignite, 657,350 lb. ; blasting - gelatine, 12,5001b. ; gelatine dynamite, 10,2001b.; A2 monobel, 233,7001b.; quarry monobel, 10,0001b.; samsonite, 266,6501b.; blasting-powder, 31,2501b.; blasting-pellets, 42,5001b.; sporting-powder, 8,5501b.; detonators, 1,500,000; E.D. fuses 310,000 ; fireworks, 58,531 lb. Other licenses were (corresponding figures for the previous year in parentheses) : Conveyance, 234 (234) ; sale, 581 (590) ; storage, 394 (374).

10

License No. and Name. Gross Sales. COm ™ales° n 011 Expenses. Prizes. Net Proceeds. Lottery Duty. Net Profit. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. 23 Luck at Last .. 22,405 5 0 3,360 15 9 2,898 3 10 4,000 12,146 5 5 2,240 10 6 9,905 14 11 24 My Lucky Chance .. 21,346 0 0 3,201 18 0 2,746 5 10 4,000 11,397 16 2 2,134 12 0 9,263 4 2 25 BetterTimes .. 21,006 17 6 3,151 0 8 2,749 4 6 4,000 11,106 12 4 2,100 13 9 9,005 18 7 26 Happy Moments .. 19,510 10 0 2,926 11 6 2,744 14 1 4,000 9,839 4 5 1,951 1 0 7,888 3 5 27' Smiling Thru .. 22,958 7 6 3,443 15 2 2,938 19 5 4,000 12,575 12 11 2,295 16 9 10,279 16 2 28' Lucky Surprise .. 21,433 5 0 3,214 19 9 2,900 10 11 4,000 11,317 14 4 2,143 6 6 9,174 7 10 29. Golden Chance .. 20,704 15 0 3,105 14 3 2,986 7 9 4,000 10,612 13 0 2,070 9 6 8,542 3 6 Totals .. 149,365 0 0 22,404 15 1 19,964 6 4 28,000 78,995 18 7 14,936 10 0 64,059 8 7