0.—12,

1938. NEW ZEALAND.

KAURI-GUM INDUSTRY (REPORT ON THE) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1938.

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

Sir, — Department of Lands and Survey, Wellington, Ist June, 1938. I have the honour to submit herewith the annual report under the Kauri-gum Industry Amendment Act, 1914, for the year ended 31st March, 1938. I have, &c., W. Robertson, Under-Secretary. The Hon. Prank Langstone, Minister of Lands.

Production during the last twelve months has been ample to meet current demands and maintain stocks on hand. As far as the better-quality gum suitable for manufacture in the varnish trade is concerned, the market is still stagnant ; consequently production has been mostly of the poorer grades of gum used in the manufacture of linoleum. There appear to be ample supplies of these types of gum for many years to come, and, providing ruling prices are maintained, .production should be ample to meet demands. Prices over the last twelve months have remained firm. Export op Kauri-gum. For the year ended 31st March, 1938, the export amounted to 2,491 tons, of the value of £126,612, an average price of about £51 per ton. The tonnage, value, and average price per ton of the export for the past sixteen years are — Year ended Tonnage . . Average 31st March, exported. el 11 ' per Ton. £ £ 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 1930 4,941 264,452 53 1931 3,145 155,602 49 1932 3,164 124,757 39 1933 2,060 57,970 28 1934 3,378 83,945 25 1935 3,412 91,070 27 1936 2,669 75,802 28 1937 3,613 119,649 33 1938 2,491 126,612 51