C.—l 2.

1929. NEW ZEALAND.

KAURI-GUM INDUSTRY (REPORT ON THE) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1929.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly pursuant to Section 5 of the Kauri-gum Industry Amendment Act, 1914.

Department of Lands and Survey, Sir, — Wellington, Ist July, 1929. I have the honour to submit herewith the annual report under the Kauri-gum Industry Amendment Act, 1914, for the year ended 31st March, 1929. I have, &c., J. B. Thompson, Under-Secretary. The Hon. G. W. Forbes, Minister of Lands.

In accordance with the provisions of the Kauri-gum Control Act, 1925, all stocks of kauri-gum the property of the Department were placed in the hands of the Kauri-gum Control Board for disposal. The Kauri-gum Control Board having decided not to export gum, but to act as a broker in the sale of producers' gum to exporters, the Government stocks were offered for sale locally. In the early part of the year a good deal of the stocks accumulated by dealers and others since the boom year of 1920 was still unsold. During the year, however, owing to the low prices obtainable for gum, most of the diggers gradually left the fields, and with the lower production the remaining private accumulations were mostly worked off, and the Government stocks came into demand and could be sold without disturbing the market or unduly interfering with current production. A number of large parcels of Government gum of gradings in short supply have been disposed of, and delivery is being taken as desired by the buyers within twelve months from the date of purchase. It is hoped that by the end of the current year practically the whole of the Government stocks of gum will have been disposed of and delivery taken. The following tables give particulars of the export of kauri-gum from the Dominion for the years 1918-29, and of the quantities of gum received in Auckland from the gumfields during the past eight years : — Export of Kauri-gum. For the year ended 31st March, 1929, the export amounted to 4,566 tons, of the value of £241,223, an average price of £53 per ton. The tonnage, value, and average price per ton of the export for the past twelve years are — Year ended Tonnage v . Average 31st March, exported. a ' per Ton. £ £ 1918 4,636 304,852 66 1919 2,338 152,299 66 1920 4,726 310,614 66 1921 6,131 524,701 85 1922 3,968 391,304 98 1923 6,080 520,409 85 1924 6,923 640,712 92 1925 5,432 446,019 82 1926 5,495 414,420 75 1927 4,529 301,335 66 1928 4,531 267,559 59 1929 4,566 241,223 53