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1937. NEW ZEALAND.

MARINE DEPARTMENT. ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR 1936-37.

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

Marine Department, Wellington, Mtli September, 1937. Your Excellency,— I do myself the honour to transmit, for Your Excellency's information, the report of the Marine Department for the financial year ended the 31st March last. I nave, &c., P. Fraser, His Excellency the Governor-General of the Minister of Marine. Dominion of New Zealand.

REPORT.

The Secretary, Marine Department, to the Hon. the Minister of Marine. Marine Department, Wellington, 20th August, 1937. I have the honour to submit the annual report on the operations of the Marine Department for the financial year ended 31st March, 1937. ~ T . * +. ™„+iTr The past year has been marked by extension in the various branches of the Department, due paitly to the improved shipping and general trade and partly to the progressive expansion into activities for which this Department holds the responsibility, such as fisheries inspection and research &c Increased expenditure, due mainly to the restoration of staff salaries extension of activities and cost of commodities, has been met with increased revenue in all branches, but the small departmental profit shown during the past four years has been reduced to a loss of approximately £1,500, after providing for depreciation and interest on capital of approximately £13,000 each. The restoration of salaries alone increased expenditure by about £6,000, so that the small loss, after allowing for the depreciation and interest charges, can be considered satisfactory. „. , The Department has progressively faced the necessity for an augmented stafi ; also extra repairs and maintenance-work held over during the period of financial depression have been, carried out during the year It is not a sound principle to postpone necessary maintenance-work m lean years to the succeeding years in that minor items become major repairs in the interim. There is no doubt therefore that the next few years' accounts of this Department will reflect abnormal maintenance expenditure, portion of which was a legitimate charge to previous years. It is the duty of the Marine Department to survey ships for safety purposes m the manner and to the extent set out in the Shipping and Seamen Act and the regulations thereunder. Annual surveys are carried out on all ships except fishing-boats not exceeding 10 tons register; sailing ships not exceeding 5 tons register ; motor pleasure launches of not more than 10 tons register, and farmers oil-launches not exceeding 6 tons register. Shipowners as a whole maintain their vessels and equipment in a good and seaworthy condition, but where small coastal vessels are owned m single units or £ small groups and when competition by sea and land is keen the tendency is to keep the vessels in service at all costs and to neglect the precautions against mishap which every ship should take. The Department has under consideration methods of keeping more closely in touch with vessels of this type with the object of ensuring that they are maintained m good condition that all equipment is carried and that they are navigated with due regard to their own safety and that of other vessels using the same waters Close attention will also be paid to fishing-vessels, particularly to those under

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