H.—22.

XIV. WAR GRAVES. Six hundred and one (601) notifications of deaths of returned soldiers were received during the year. Of these, 86 were accepted as war graves, the cause of death being attributed to disabilities sustained on or aggravated by war service. The total number of war graves in New Zealand at the close of the year was 3,676. Temporary crosses were placed on 314 graves and headstones to the number of 85 were ordered. Additional constructional work was carried out in the soldiers' cemeteries at Anderson's Bay (Dunedin), Omaka (Blenheim), Otaki, Karori (Wellington), Hamilton East, and Bromley (Christchurch). All soldiers' cemeteries continue to be suitably maintained under arrangements made through the local controlling authorities. Veterans' graves continue to be attended to, and during the year renovations were carried out to graves at Tauranga, Opotiki, Mahoetahi, Normanby, and Tuamarina. As far as has been humanly possible under existing world conditions, the Imperial War Graves Commission has continued to maintain New Zealand war graves and memorials overseas out of the income derived from the Endowment Fund of £5,000,000 to which the Imperial and Dominion Governments contributed in proportion to the number of graves of their respective dead. XV. DISTINGUISHED VISITORS. Many notable people visited New Zealand during the past year, among whom were the Hon. H. L. Anthony, Assistant Treasurer and Assistant Minister for Commerce for the Commonwealth of Australia, and party; Sir Geoffrey Whiskard, K.C.M.G., C.8., High Commissioner for the United Kingdom in Australia; Sir Harry Luke, K.C.M.G., Governor of Fiji; Mr. Noel Coward, London; Hon. C. E. Gauss, United States Minister to Australia, and Mrs. Gauss ; and Hon. Tugi, Premier ol' Tonga. A party of distinguished Americans headed by Mr. C. Whitney, and including Dr. E. Gruening, Governor of Alaska, Mr. T. H. Beck, of Collier Publishing Co., Mr. Malcolm Muir, of Newsweek, Mr. Fletcher Bowron, Mayor of Los Angeles, and Mr. Paul C. Patterson, of the Baltimore Sun, visited New Zealand in September, 1940; and another party of American journalists headed by Mr. Hoy Howard, of the Scripps Howard Newspaper Syndicate, and including Mr. Harold Callender, of the New York Times, spent several days in Auckland and district in August, 1940. A number of American journalists and cameramen, including Mr. Carroll Binder, of the Chicago Daily News, Mr. W. W. Waymack, of the Des Moines Register and Tribune, Mr. Wallace Kirkland, of Life, and Mr. Victor J. Jurgens, of the March of Time, visited this country. Several of His Majesty's Australian ships visited New Zealand during the year, and hospitality was extended to officers and men of these vessels. We were honoured by a visit of a United States Squadron, comprising the cruisers " Brooklyn " and " Savannah " and the destroyers " Case'," " Shaw," " Cummings," and " Tucker." This section was also responsible for official farewell functions to members of the various echelons and reinforcements which left these shores for overseas. The activities of this section have been greatly increased on account of the fact that a considerable number of the functions held and the visits of notable people from overseas were connected with the war effort. XVI. RAFFLES AND ART-UNIONS UNDER THE GAMING ACT. Two hundred and thirty-five licenses under authority of section 42 of the Gaining Act, 1908, were issued during the year. Of these, 161 were for works of art, 61 for small amounts of alluvial gold, and 13 for alluvial gold to the value of £5,000 each. The following table sets out the results of the £5,000 gold art-unions :• — £ s. d. Gross sales .. .. ~ .. 220,960 5 0' Commission on sales.. .. .. .. .. 33,144 1 1 Expenses .. .. .. .. .. . . 32,838 1 9 Prizes .. .. .. .. .. 65,000 0 0 Net proceeds .. .. .. .. .. 89,978 22 Lottery duty .. .. .. .. .. 22 ,096 0 6 Net profit .. .. .. .. .. 67,882 1 8 Of the net profits, £42,000 was distributed to the various Mayoral or other recognized central relief funds established for the relief of distress, making a total of £418,000 made available for this purpose during recent years, whilst £25,300 was allocated to charitable and philanthropic organizations, including children's health camps. XVII. FIRE BRIGADES ACT, 1926. There are fifty-five Fire Boards in operation. Various phases of the activities of Fire Boards came before the Department for consideration, including approval of the estimated expenditure of each Board. The annual conference of Fire Brigades was held in Nelson, and the Under-Secretary and Inspector of Fire Brigades were present throughout the proceedings. The annual report of the Inspector of Fire Brigades will, as usual, be published as a separate statement. XVIII. CHARTERED CLUBS. There are still forty-six clubs operating, and the reports of Inspectors of Chartered Clubs indicated that the clubs were being properly conducted and were fulfilling the conditions upon which their charters were granted, except in three cases where there were indications of the sale of liquor during prohibited hours. The clubs concerned were suitably warned.

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