H. -22

1937. NEW ZEALAND.

DEPARTMENT OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS (ANNUAL REPORT OF THE) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1937.

Laid on the Table of the House of Representatives by Leave.

Sir, — Department of Internal Affairs, Wellington, 6th October, 1937. I have the honour to submit herewith the annual report of the Department for the year ended 31st March, 1937. I have, &c., The Hon. W. E. Parry, J. W. Heenan, Under-Secretary. Minister of Internal Affairs.

REPORT.

General. During the year under review, the established work of the Department, as will be seen in the various sectional reports, has expanded to a remarkable degree. In addition, various new activities have been undertaken, some of a temporary or occasional nature, others that promise to become permanent. The abdication of King Edward VIII and the accession of King George VI both meant a brief period of work under extreme pressure. Coronation. During the year a great deal of work was undertaken in connection with the Coronation celebrations. The loyal address from the people of New Zealand was illuminated by the Publicity Branch of the New Zealand Railways Department and bound in covers of inlaid New Zealand woods made by the Soldiers' Civil Re-establishment League. This Department was charged with the general carrying-out of the scheme of decoration and illumination of public buildings throughout New Zealand for the Coronation week, and during the year the technical work involved was entrusted to a special committee consisting of representatives of the Public Works, Post and Telegraph, and Railways Departments. King George the Fifth Memorial. Just before the close of the year the Prime Minister launched his national appeal for the King George the Fifth Memorial Fund, the object of this fund being the' permanent establishment of children's health camps in New Zealand. This Department was charged with the work of organization arising out of the Appeal. New Zealand's Centennial, 1940. In the last annual report reference was made to a preliminary conference held at Parliament Buildings early in March, 1936, of the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Minister of Industries and Commerce, and the Mayors of old provincial capitals, for the purpose of. considering generally the Centennial Celebrations of 1940. Arising out of that conference the Minister appointed a National Centennial Committee, consisting of himself as Chairman, the Hon. Minister of Industries and Commerce, the Mayors of Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin, the Under-Secretary of Internal Affairs, the Secretary to the Treasury, and the Secretary I—H. 22.