H.—43,

10

certain definite recommendations were made to the Government as to the best means of handling these men of alien origin. Bread. The members of the Board have made inquiries relating to the sale and delivery of bread, and have reported to the Government as to the manufacture of and as to the restrictions they recommended in connection with the sale of this commodity. Reports were obtained from Dr. Malcolm, Professor of Physiology at the Otago School of Medicine, and also from Professor H. B, Kirk, of Victoria, University College. The Board also had under its consideration particulars of the course of .action taken in Great Britain. The regulations of the British Food Controller, issued early in March, may be summarized as follows: No bread less than twelve hours old shall be sold or offered for sale; no fancy bread or currant, bread should be sold; no sugar should be used in the making of bread; and no bread should be exchanged. Also, it is made compulsory on millers to extract from the wheat not less than 81 per cent, of flour, and an additional 5 per cent, of an admixture is compulsory, the added material being either rice, barley, maize, semolina, oats, rye, or beans. A further admixture to the extent of an additional 10 per cent, is permitted. The National Efficiency Board made inquiries in New Zealand as to what the customary milling is, and what the effect would be if the Government declared that the only flour .to be used was that known as " standard " flour. At present ordinary white flour contains only from. 72 to 75 per cent, bulk of wheat—the balance is rejected in the form of bran or pollard : whereas in " standard " flour a large portion of the outer skin or husk of the wheat is retained, and something like 85 to 86 per cent, of the bulk of the flour is utilized for human food. After carefully considering the matter, the Board decided that, although it may at a later date have to recommend the Government to consider the question of the adoption of " standard " flour, as the Government had been successful in obtaining sufficient wheat to tide the Dominion over the next few months until the new crop is gathered in, they determined not to at present make any recommendation as to the substitution of white flour by " standard " flour. The Board resolved that the Acting Prime Minister be informed that the National Efficiency Board is of the opinion that restriction should be placed upon the sale of bread, so as to provide that only bread that is at least twelve hours old shall be sold or delivered, and that the Acting Prime Minister be advised that, the Board anticipates that the resultant economy in consumption will be very considerable. The members of the Board are anxious that this experiment should be tried. The evidence of bakers and others shows clearly that not only is moderately stale bread much healthier than fresh bread, but that there is considerable economy in its use. It is believed that if this restriction be put in force—and it is understood that the master bakers in most cases would not be opposed to such a regulation—it may possibly be followed by an alteration in the hours at which the operative bakers carry out their work. It does not appear to be efficient or healthy that men should commence work at 3, 4, or 5 o'clock in the morning when there is no real reason why the baking of bread should not be carried out in daylight hours. Honey Industry. The Board took considerable evidence in relation to the honey industry of the Dominion with a view of maintaining the industry notwithstanding the fact that many men had been called away from it for military service, and also with a view of developing it as a suitable occupation in which returned soldiers might, be engaged. The industry is one capable of considerable extension, and the Board has under consideration questions in relation to it. Butter-boxes and White-pine Industry. — Board of Trade. — Overlapping of Inquiries. The Taranaki Efficiency Board Trustees, representing the dairying industry of that province, drew the attention of the Board to the great risk of serious loss to the Dominion, and especially to their industry, arising out of the exportation of white-pine timber to Australia and the loss of that timber through the clearing of bush lands. The Board made certain inquiries into this matter, and as a result of an interview they had with the members of the Board of Trade it was ascertained that this question had been specifically referred to that Board by the Government for consideration, and this Board therefore determined not to proceed in its inquiries in respect of this matter. At this conference with the Board of Trade the general question of the relative duties of the two Boards was discussed with a view to preventing any unnecessary overlapping. Overseas Shipping and Cold Storage Conference. At the request of the Government the National Efficiency Board Commissioners took part in the recent Foodstuffs Disposal Conference with the members of the Board of Trade, the members of the Government Requisitions Committee, and a representative of the Overseas ShippingCommittee, to inquire as to the best means of dealing with the Dominion's food products in view of the shortage of tonnage. The Conference was opened by the Acting Prime Minister, with the Minister of Munitions in attendance. At the suggestion of Sir James Allen, Mr. W. Ferguson was appointed Chairman of the Conference. On behalf of the Conference the Board took the necessary steps to ascertain the amount of storage accommodation available, and what additional storage could be provided. At an adjourned meeting of the Conference on the 22nd June, when the Minister of Agriculture was present and presided, a report was adopted making certain representations to the Government, as to the steps to be taken to deal with the position.