H.—22.

War Funds. There has been no decrease in the number of registered war funds during the twelve months ended 31st March, 1938, their activities, in the main, having been of a fixed character for a number of years. Ihe fifty-four societies, together with the National War Funds Council, hold assets as shown in their latest annual «tatements amounting to £671,030 Is. Id., summarized as follows : — £ s. d. 27 Incorporated societies .. .. .. .. .. 387,954 14 9 7 Red Cross societies .. .. .. .. .. 91,346 12 4 3 Blind soldiers and veterans' homes funds* . . . . . . 69,925 310 12 Unincorporated societies . . . . . . . . . . 7,830 11 10 6 Returned soldiers' clubs .. .. .. .. .. 25,786 10 4 S5 582,843 13 1 National War Funds Council .. .. .. .. 88,186 BOf £671,030 1 1 Of this, total advances to soldiers represent 13 per cent., land and buildings 15 per cent., and the remaining 72 per cent, consists of readily convertible assets. The annual reports of the majority of societies reveal little decrease in the calls made upon them by the beneficiaries, and the indications are that war funds will be needed for some years to come. Totalizator Inspection. A representative of the Department was present at all race meetings at which the totalizator was in operation. A new electric totalizator is now in use at meetings of the New Zealand Metropolitan and Canterbury Park Trotting Clubs. Raffles. Seven hundred and eight licenses under authority of section 42 of the Gaming Act, 1908, were issued during the year. Of these, 428 were for works of art, 270 for small amounts of alluvial gold, and 10 for alluvial gold of the value of £5,000. The following table shows the results of the £5,000 gold art unions :—

Of the net profits, £45,000 was distributed to the various Mayoral or other recognized central funds established for the relief of distress, making a total of £280,000 made available for this purpose during the past few years, whilst £18,500 was allotted to other philanthropic and charitable organizations and £10,280 set aside for children's health camps. Fire Brigades Act, 1926. There were no new Fire Boards constituted during the year. Applications were received from two local bodies for Orders in Council to declare their districts to be fire districts for the purposes of the Act. It was decided, however, to allow these cases to remain in abeyance until Parliament decides the result of the Government proposals for the amalgamation of local authorities, which proposals include provisions for fire-protection services. The number of Fire Boards operating still remains at fifty-five. The annual report of the Inspector of Fire Brigades will be published as a separate statement, as in previous years. Explosives and Dangerous Goods. Licenses.—lmportation licenses in respect of the following quantities of explosives were issued during the year : Gelignite, 102,5001b. ; Polar gelignite, 1,055,000 lb. ; blasting-gelatine, nil; Polar blasting-gelatine, nil : gelatine dynamite, nil ; Polar gelatine dynamite, 8,750 lb. ; samsonite, nil ; Polar samsonite, 168,350 lb. ; A2 monobel, 174,300 lb. ; quarry monobel, 34,550 lb. ; ligdynite' 1,0001b.; blasting-powder, 42,2501b.; blasting-pellets, 31,2501b.; sporting powder, 27,484 lb. ; detonators, 2,125,000 ; E.D. fuses, 566,000 lb. ; safety fuse, 7,754,400 ft. ; fireworks, 90,467 lb.

* One (home) under control of an incorporated society. f Estimate, final figures not available.

18

Licence No. and Name. Gross Sales. | on Expenses. Prizes. Net Proceeds. Lottery Duty. Net Profit. £ s - d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d 60. Try Your Luck .. 19,908 5 0 2,986 4 9 2,913 9 4 5,000 9,008 10 11 1,990 16 6 7,017 14 5 61. Golden Gleam .. 19,066 5 0 2,859 18 9 2,848 13 9 5,000 8,357 12 6 1,906 12 6 6,451 0 0 62. All for Me .. 19,459 7 6 2,918 18 2 2,892 10 8 5,000 8,647 18 8 1,945 18 9 6,701 19 11 63. Money from Home 19,363 10 0 2,904 10 6 2,909 8 4 5,000 8,549 11 2 1,936 7 0 6,613 4 2 64. Sporting Luck .. 20,329 10 0 3,049 8 6 2,990 9 5 5,000 9,289 12 1 2,032 19 0 13 1 65. My Black Cat .. 20,760 17 6 3,114 2 8 2,910 2 1 5,000 9,736 12 9 2,076 1 9 7,660 11 0 66. My Lucky Spin .. 24,242 5 0 3,636 6 9 2,901 12 6 5,000 12,704 5 9 2,424 4 6 10,280 1 3 67. JoyforMe .. 22,333 5 0 3,349 19 9 2,918 2 11 5,000 11,065 2 4 2,233 6 6 15 10 68. Lucky Venture .. 20,226 5 0 3,033 18 9 2,986 7 1 5,000 9,205 19 2 2,022 12 6 7,183 6 8 69. It's Mine .. 21,774 15 0 3,266 4 3 2,966 7 5 5,000 10,542 3 4 2,177 9 6 8',364 13 10 Totals .. 207,464 5 0 31,119 12 10 29,237 3 6 50,000 97,107 8 8 20,746 8 6 76,361 0 2