D.—2

New business written up during the last five years is as under : — 1936. 1935. 1934. 1933. 1932. £ £ £ £ £ Outdoor advertising .. 37,515 -30,539 17,235 24,069 26,415 Publications .. .. 4,827 3,144 2,915 1,295 1,859 Miscellaneous.. .. •• 613 621 767 Buses .. .. 973 47 13 127 749 £43,315 £33,730 £20,776 £26,112 £29,790 The continued decline in the revenue during the depression years has been due to a very heavy falling-ofi in the amount of new business written up. This decline has now been arrested, and with the general healthier tone in outside business circles, revenue should in the future show a steady increase. The total return to the Department in respect of operations of the Advertising Branch during the past five years was as follows : — 1936. 1935. 1934. 1933. 1932. £ £ £ £ £ Rent, land, and buildings 800 797 800 1,000 1,000 Rent, advertising-sites 8,325 7,259 7,890 7,593 8,741 Commission .. .. 728 737 786 780 960 Interest .. •• 890 1,017 1,261 1,413 1,697 Railage .. . ■ 373 357 390 265 293 Profit .. .. 2,383 2,088 2,548 3,676 2,898 £13,499 £12,255 £13,675 £14,727 £15,589

REFRESHMENT SERVICE.

An analysis of the Refreshment Branch receipts is as follows : —

The number of meals served in the dining-rooms totalled 88,256, an increase of 10,494 (13-50 per cent.) over the previous year. From and including sth January, 1936, the charge for meals in the dining-rooms was reduced from 2s. 6d. to 2s. per meal. The expenditure for the year increased by £7,291 (9-39 per cent.), the mam increases being salaries and wages, £1,700 ; and stores and provisions, £4,444. The increase in salaries and wages was due to the 7|-per-cent. restoration and increased turnover, while the increase in stores and provisions was due to the increased business at the various rooms.

XVI

I 1936. j 1935. Variation. Per Cent. £ £ £ Revenue •• »9 >132 79,817 +9,315 11-67 Expenditure ! 84,976 77,685 + 7,291 9-39 Net revenue .. •• £4,156 £2,132 +£2,024 94-93

_ 1936. 1935. I Variation. £ £ £ Per Cent Dining-rooms .. .. 10,315 9,720 + 595 6-12 Counter-rooms .. .. •• 76,071 67,446 + 8,62o Miscellaneous .. .. •• 2,746 2,651 + 95 Totals .. •• I £89,132 j £79,817 +£9,315 11-67