H—22

by various Departments have to be translated. The following Departments, to name but a few, have made extensive use, during the year under review, of the facilities provided : Customs Department: Correspondence by intending immigrants and foreign documents submitted in connection with immigration. Department of Internal Affairs —Naturalization Section : All documents supporting applications for naturalization. Department of Justice and Prisons : Censoring of prisoners' mail in foreign languages—e.g., ship deserters. Prime Minister's Department: Foreign correspondence in various languages and draft conventions submitted by overseas bodies for the consideration of the Government. Government Railways : Translations of overseas technical reports on railway electrification and related matters, making use of valuable technical experience gained overseas over many years. Department of Scientific and Industrial Research : Translations of overseas scientific papers, reports, articles, &c. Social Security Department: Translation of all foreign documents supporting applications for age-benefits, family benefits, &c. State Hydro-electric Department: Translation of a comprehensive technical report on the largest French hydro-electrical scheme in connection with the visit of an American expert inspecting New Zealand water-power installations. In addition to this, certified translations of documents are provided for members of the general public on request, such as overseas matriculation certificates, &c., for which fees are charged. The increased number of foreign immigrants, especially displaced persons, has augmented the work in this connection. Government Departments were circularized during the year, informing them that all overseas periodicals and magazines of a technical or scientific nature received by them on an exchange basis could be submitted for translation of tables of contents. Summaries are made in the first instance so as to enable them to keep abreast of modern developments overseas of interest to them, and this service is being used increasingly. The Service also assisted with some translation problems in connection with the Conference of social security experts representing various overseas countries, held in Wellington in February, 1950. It is pleasing to note that several Departments have made known their approval of the service provided. While the translator handles the greater number of the main European languages himself, a panel of part-time translators, including experts in many fields of science and technics, is in existence, and also some rarer languages such as Chinese, Arabic, Fijian, and Tahitian, and some of the Indian languages were dealt with. Several interpreters were made available to the Magistrates' Courts from the translators' panel, when required. It has so far been possible to handle all translation problems within this country, without recourse to overseas linguists. XVI. WAR MEMORIALS The policy of encouraging the establishment of " living " war memorials in the form of community centres was furthered during the year by the approval in principle of a number of new projects. Of 72 under consideration, 40 were approved, involving & subsidy of approximately £lBB,OOO.

38