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1926. NEW ZEALAND.

MARINE DEPARTMENT. ANNUAL REPORT FOR 1925-26.

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

Your Excellency,— Marine Department, Wellington, August, 1926. I do myself the honour to transmit for your Excellency's information the report of the Marine Department of the Dominion for the financial year ended the 31st March last. I have, &c., G. Jas. Anderson, Minister of Marine. His Excellency Sir Charles Fergusson, Bart., LL.D., G.C.G., K.C.8., D.5.0., M.V.0., Governor-General of New Zealand.

RE POET. The Secretary, Marine Department, to the Hon. the Minister op Marine. Sir, — Marine Department, Wellington, 31st July, 1926. I have the honour to submit this my annual report on the operations of the Marine Department for the financial year ended the 31st March, 1926. I propose, as last year, to draw particular attention to matters of greater importance which have arisen during the year, leaving the more detail and routine administration to be summarized under the various headings. Administration and Staff. No changes of particular importance have occurred during the year. Financial. The double-entry system of accounts is now completely established, and has been in full operation during the past year, and has proved of immense advantage to the Department. The immediate establishment of debtors and creditors which it enables has, for this immediate year, somewhat adversely affected the year's finance, but will advantage the succeeding and every future year. During the current year it is intended to completely sectionalize the accounts in relation to each branch of the Department's operations, in order that a more complete administrative perspective may be obtained. The balance-sheet of departmental accounts which will be presented will completely disclose the Department's financial position. Certain standing charges, such as interest on capital, sinking fund and depreciation, are beyond our capacity to control or vary. The collection of revenue and the control of expenditure is, however, largely within the Department's capacity, and for this reason I use, as expressing the Department's effort, a statement of receipts and payments extending over a period of five years.

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