H.—44.

1935. NEW ZEALAND.

DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRIES AND COMMERCE (EIGHTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE).

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

Your Excellency,— Wellington, 27th September, 1935. I have the honour to submit for your Excellency's information the report of the Department of Industries and Commerce for the past year. I have, &c., R. Masters, Minister of Industries and Commerce. His Excellency the Governor-General of the Dominion of New Zealand.

g IR; Wellington, 4th September, 1935. I have the honour to submit the annual report of the Department of Industries and Commerce. This report deals with the work of the Department since the previous report was placed before Parliament, and covers generally the period ended 30th April, 1935. In certain instances, however, matters subsequent to that date are also referred to. I have, &c., L. J. Schmitt, Secretary. To Hon. E. Masters, Minister of Industries and Commerce.

BANKING RETURNS. The main features of the banking position in the Dominion for the quarter ended 30th June, 1935, as disclosed by the statement of liabilities and assets of the six trading banks for that period, are briefly commented upon below. For the quarter ended 30th June, 1935, deposits (exclusive of Government deposits) amounted to £61,272,541, as compared with £63,735,896 for the corresponding quarter of 1934, a decrease of £2,463,355. Advances, on the other hand, showed an increase of £2,515,116 for the past quarter, the figures being £43,859,245, as against £41,344,129 for the quarter ended 30th June, 1934. As a result, there was an excess of deposits over advances of £17,413,296, as compared with a similar excess of £22,391,767 for the corresponding period of the previous year. The relation of deposits to advances for the quarter ended 30th June in each of the past ten years is shown in the following table : —

I—H. 44.

Excess of Quarter ended 30th June, Deposits. Advances. . Deposits. | Advances. I __ . - £ £ £ £ 1926 . • - 48,269,349 48,714,742 .. 445,393 1927 .. .. 46,490,366 50,753,106 .. 4,262,740 1928 .. •• 52,947,133 45,426,955 7,520,178 1929 .. .. 57,051,894 47,407,211 9,644,683 1930 .. .. 53,748,038 54,063,162 .. 315,124 1931 . .. 51,169,387 53,395,535 .. 2,226,148 1932 .. .. 52,216,782 50,581,395 1,635,387 1933 .. .. 55,734,003 46,757,111 8,976,891 1934 .. .. 63,735,896 41,344,129 22,391,767 1935 . .. 61,272,541 43,859,245 17,413,296