C—3

CHAPTER Y.—GENERAL. 1. Legislation. The only legislation affecting State forests enacted during the year was section 3 of the Mining Act, 1935, which restricts the operation of section 66 (/) of the Mining Act, 1926, by providing that no body corporate shall be entitled to exercise the authority to cut timber conferred on the holder of a miner's right except with the consent of the Minister of Mines and the Commissioner of State Forests, and subject to such terms and conditions as may be imposed. It has always been recognized that a miner's right gives the holder thereof the right to cut and remove timber free of charge from unalienated Crown land (including State forests) for mining and his own domestic use—i.e., for firewood, fencing, and the building of a house for occupation by him. In addition to the individual miner, however, this right was hitherto enjoyed by commercial organizations. The individual miner is not affected by this legislation. 2. Finance. Receipts. The increase in receipts over last year's figures—approximately £34,000 —is convincing evidence that the milling industry is again in a flourishing condition. The gross receipts were £106,978, being the highest total recorded for eight years. Detailed figures are given in the attached schedule:—

TABLE 9.

Payments. The year's expenditure shows an increase of £19,000 over last year's total, but this is accounted for mainly by increases in salaries and wages and additional payments to local bodies and National Endowment Account. Expenditure on the indigenous forests also shows a slight increase. Rigid economy and careful supervision over projects were responsible for keeping the expenditure down to the minimum under all heads consistent with efficiency.

TABLE 10.

16

I IIItem. 1935-36. 1934-35. 1933-34. 1932-33. Indigenous-forests receipts — £ £ £ £ Timber-sales .... .. .. .. 74,828 47,179 31,017 27,129 Timber royalties and trespass .. .. 5,006 5,449 3,164 3,667 Leases, grazing .. .. .. 1,757 1,646 1,816 1 637 Sawmill-sites, industrial, &c. .. .. 957 1,417 1,348 1 412 Miscellaneous.. .. .. .. 2,844 2,125 2,206 1^587 National Endowment Account allocation .. 15,712 10,990 6,612 6,221 Nurseries and plantations— Trees and seeds .. .. • • 1 Firewood and poles .. .. .. > 5,874 4,094 6,546 3,542 Miscellaneous .. .. .. .. J Totals .. .. .. 106,978 72,900 52,709 45,195

item. 1935-36. 1934-35. 1933-34. ; 1932-33. I I Fixed charges and staff salaries — £ £ | £ j £ Interest and expenses of raising loans .. 525 172 269 97 256 Staff salaries .. .. .. .. 41,374 34,155 32,901 Allocation of revenue — National Endowment Account .. .. 7,117 3,436 3,893 3 840 Local-body payments .. .. .. 9,243 5,903 Management, establishment, and development — Indigenous forests .. .. .. 14,763 11,735 8,817 9,501 Fire-fighting equipment and prevention . . 415 805 820 668 Educational : Reference library, &c. .. 260 445 120 I 411 Research and experimental equipment, &c. 836 528 1,022 1 017 Afforestation: Nurseries and plantations . . 60,642 59,136 54,292 49 348 Land-purchase .. .. .. 70 .. 10,542 12^646 Miscellaneous .. .. .. .. 500 343 202 ; ' 205 Sand-dune reclamation .. .. .. .. .. .. j Totals .. .. .. 135,745 116,658 j 116,386 1 212,383 | I " ' : ' S ' -