H.-4.

1928. NEW ZEALAND

STORES CONTROL BOARD (ANNUAL REPORT OF).

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Leave.

Sia ; — Stores Control Board, Wellington, 7th August, 1928. I have the honour to submit herewith the annual report of the Stores Control Board for the period ended 31st March, 1928. I have, &c., F. J. Brooker, Secretary. The Hon. K. S. Williams, Chairman, Stores Control Board.

REPORT. Purchases. During the year ended 31st March, 1928, the total expenditure on stores amounted to the sum of £3,947,117 lis. 6d., made up as follows: — _ , , Amount. Department. £ s d New Zealand Railways .. .. .. .. .. 1,806,594 7 6 Public, Works .. .. .. .. .. .. 843,006 15 0 Post and Telegraph .. .. .. .. .. 459,054 16 8 Mental Hospitals .. .. .. .. .. .. 169,409 11 3 Naval .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 11.4,878 14 1 Defence .. .. . . .. .. .. .. 105,328 10 10 Printing and Stationery .. .. .. .. .. 67,676 15 5 Health .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 61,763 2 6 Prisons .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 48,144 8 4 Education .... .. .. .. .. 43,068 1 5 Agriculture .. .. .. .. .. .. 29,473 9 5 Lands and Survey .. .. .. .. .. 29,427 10 9 Mines .. .. .. .. .. .. 27,674 15 10 State Forest Service • .. .. .. .. .. 23,787 4 7 Other Departments .. .. .. .. .. 117,829 7 11 £3,947,117 11 6 With the exception of a few instances, in which the circumstances 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 10,518 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.