STORES CONTROL BOARD (ANNUAL REPORT OF).

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1936 Session I, H-04

H. —4.

1936. N EW ZEALAND.

STORES CONTROL BOARD (ANNUAL REPORT OF).

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Leave.

Stores Control Board, Wellington, 14th August, 1936. The Hon. R. Semple, Chairman, Stores Control Board. I have the honour to submit herewith the annual report of the Stores Control Board for the year ended 31st March, 1936. P. Ellekm, Secretary.

REPORT.

Purchases. During the year ended 31st March, 1936, the expenditure on the purchase of stores, as compared with the year ended 31st March, 1935, was as under:— Year ended Year ended 31st March, 31st March, 1935. 1936. £ £ Railways . . . . . . . . 1,343,598 1,495,279 Public Works . . . . . . .. 481,328 522,327 Post and Telegraph . . . . . . 268,055 344,387 Mental Hospitals .. . . . . . . 161,669 177,175 Native . . .. . . . . . . 105,936 110,579 Naval . . . . . . . . 118,881 69,471 Defence . . . . . . . . . . 46,068 66,162 Printing and Stationery . . . . . . 51,129 64,086 Lands and Survey .. . . . . . . 47,879 57,344 Labour—Employment Division . . . . 46,679 56,087 Justice and Prisons. . .. . . . . 39,607 49,057 Education . . . . . . . . . . 33,646 38,265 Health . . . . . . . . . . 28,010 29,821 Industries and Commerce, Tourist, and Publicity 23,136 29,151 Agriculture . . . . . . 34,038 26',453 Mines .. .. .. .. . . 14,550 21,083 State Forest Service. . .. .. .. 17,264 19 120 Marine . . . . ~ .. . . 18,640 18,193 External Affairs . . . . . . . . 9,594 11,594 Police . . . . . . . . . 8,065 8,'989 State Fire . . . . . . . . . . 6,357 6,211 Internal Affairs . . . . . . . . 4,906 5,958 Scientific and Industrial Research . . .. 8,109 5 839 Other Departments .. .. . . . . 22,498 19^183 £2,939,642 £3,251,814

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The expenditure on stores shows an increase of £312,172 as compared with the previous year. The purchases during the past ten years were as under: — £ , £ 1927 . . . ■ 3,877,275 1932 . . . . 2,757,214 192S . . . . 3,947,117 1933 . , . . 2,109,698 1929 . . . . 4,199,822 1934 . . . . 2,417,676 1930 . . 4,345,030 1935 . . . . 2,939,642 1931 . . 4,286,803 1936 , . .. 3,251,814 Contracts. At the 31st March, 1936, contracts arranged by the Board were in operation for the supply of the undermentioned items to all Departments:— Batteries for motor-vehicles. Bricks, earthenware pipes and fittings. Brush ware —painters' and general. Candles, soap, and soda. Cement. Coal, coke, and firewood. Cream-separators. Cyclostyle stencils and correcting fluid. Disinfectant. Electric lamps. Fencing-wire. Fuel oil and lubricating-oil for small Diesel engines. Ink—cyclostyle, fountain-pen, and writing. Motor-vehicle lubricating oils and greases. Motor-spirit and kerosene. Motor-tires. Paper—carbon, toilet, and wrapping. Photographic work. Polish—metal, floor, and paste. Sensitized paper and linens. Spare parts for motor-vehicles. Superphosphate and compound superphosphate fertilizers. Twine. Typewriters and typewriter ribbons. In addition to the above, numerous departmental contracts are also arranged throughout the year, the principal items concerned being— Aviation-spirit. Boots for Labour and Defence Departments. Crockery for Mental Hospitals Department. Foodstuffs (sugar, milk, bread, butter, meat, fish, hams and bacon, &c.). Fuel oil for Navy and Government ships. Lubricating-oil for nr.v. " Maui Pomare." Medicines for Native schools. Radio receivers and equipment for use in schools. Samoan banana-cases. Tobacco for Mental Hospitals Department. Uniforms for messengers. Competition for all items has been exceptionally keen, and the service rendered by contractors during the year has, in general, been efficient and satisfactory. Purchase of Agricultural Seeds. Since December, 1931, the purchase of agricultural seeds for all Government Departments has been undertaken by the Department of Agriculture and this method of purchase has worked smoothly and efficiently. It is satisfactory to note that check tests undertaken during the year with samples drawn from actual deliveries have shown that the germination and purity percentages of the bulk supplies have substantially agreed with the particulars specified by the suppliers. Preference to New Zealand and British Manufacturers. In the purchase of stores for Government use preference is given to New Zealand and British manufacturers, and this policy has been maintained throughout the year. Inquiries have also been instituted with the object of further extending the use of locally manufactured goods. Approximate Cost of Paper.—Preparation, not given ; printing (474 copies), £1 15s.

By Authority: G. H. Loney, Government Printer, Wellington.—l 936.

Price 3d.]

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