H.—4.

1926. NEW ZEALAND.

STORES CONTROL BOARD (ANNUAL REPORT OF).

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Leave.

Sxr Stores Control Board, Wellington, 10th July, 1926. I have the honour to submit herewith the annual report of the Stores Control Board for the period ended 31st March, 1926. I have, &c., F. J. Brooker, Secretary. The Hon. K. S. Williams, Chairman, Stores Control Board.

REPORT. Purchases. During the year ended the 31st March, 1926, the total expenditure on stores amounted to the sum of £4,690,569 Bs. Bd. With the exception of a few instances in which the requirements were too urgent to allow of the usual procedure being followed, tenders or quotations were invited for the whole of the stores required. For the requisitioning Departments 11,196 requisitions were dealt with, and 448 contracts were arranged for daily supplies, mostly perishable foodstuffs, &c. These figures do not include the requisitions and contracts dealt with by the three purchasing Departments (Railways, Public Works, Post and Telegraph) on account of their own Departments. General contracts covering the requirements of all Departments were arranged on favourable terms for the supply of cement, typewriters, motor-spirit, motor lubricating-oils, motor-tires, kerosene, " Ford " spare parts, and " Overland " spare parts. Contracts for the supply of coal and firewood have also been arranged at Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Invercargill, New Plymouth, and Blenheim. Standardization. The special committee appointed to consider the standardization of stores required by all Government Departments has completed its work. All stores have been classified under suitable headings, such as " Ironmongery," " Brushware," " Oils and Paints," &c., and specifications prepared. In all thirty-five schedules have been drafted, and these are at present being printed by the Government Printer. Terms and conditions of contract have also been prepared, and so soon as the printed schedules are available tenders will be invited for supply for a definite period, which may vary, according to the different classes, from one to three years. When complete the contracts will relieve the purchasing officers of a large proportion of their present duties, as Departments, instead of sub mitting requisitions, will place their orders direct with the contractors.