H.— 44.

ranges of samples, each, comprising eight types of gh.ee made from different qualities of butter and prepared in different ways, were despatched by the Department of Industries and Commerce to its representatives in those countries where such have been appointed. In places where such representatives are not located arrangements were made for the services of His Majesty's Trade Commissioners to be made available, and the samples were sent to them. Arrangements were made by such representatives and Trade Commissioners for the samples to be tried out by suitable firms in the different countries and for reports to be submitted thereon. Samples were sent to the Dutch East Indies, British Malaya, Ceylon, India, Burma, Egypt, Hong Kong, and China. The inquiries have not yet been completed, and it is not possible at this juncture to indicate whether it would be a commercially practical proposition to manufacture ghee in New Zealand for export to the Eastern countries mentioned. In this matter this Department has co-operated closely with the Department of Scientific _ and Industrial Research and the Dairy Research Institute, and work is being carried out at that Institute in regard to the manufacture of a type or types of ghee conforming to the requirements of Eastern markets. The results to date show that by reason of certain technical difficulties the preparation of suitable high-quality ghee is by no means as simple as it at first appears. It is probable, however, that these difficulties can be overcome. It will then, of course, be necessary to determine to what extent it will be commercially possible to produce and ship ghee at costs within the prices available for the different grades in the several markets referred to. Overseas Trade Representatives. Apart from the High Commissioner's office in London, New Zealand's trade representation overseas has hitherto comprised two full-time official Trade and. Tourist Commissioners stationed in Australia and Canada respectively, and a number of honorary agents and correspondents in different parts of the world. Recently, however, as has been indicated in previous sections of this report, the permanent full-time representation has been extended by the appointments of Trade and Tourist Commissioners to the Continent of Europe and to the Pacific Coast of the United States. Mr. G. W. Clinkard, Secretary of the Department of Industries and Commerce and General Manager of the Tourist and Publicity Department, has been appointed to the first position, and Mr. R. M. Firth, District Manager of the Department's office at Melbourne, has been appointed to the second. These officers will shortly make their headquarters at Brussels and Los Angeles respectively. The attention of the business and commercial community is drawn to the services and facilities offered by the above-mentioned Trade Commissioners and honorary agents and correspondents overseas. They are at the disposal of any person or firm desiring to extend trade relations with the countries concerned. The services of these representatives have been availed of to an increasing extent, and the scope of their activities is steadily expanding. To the Trade Commissioners in Australia and Canada, every credit is due for the energetic manner in which they have represented the Dominion in those countries, and to the honorary agents and correspondents the Department's thanks are due for the ready assistance and close co-operation which has at all times been given by them. Acknowledgment is also here made of the Department's appreciation of the services rendered by the High Commissioner's staff in London in connection with the carrying-out of trade inquiries on behalf of the Department. A list of New Zealand Government offices overseas which are available for trade development purposes is given hereunder :— Great Britain and Europe — The High Commissioner for New Zealand, 415 Strand, London, W.C. 2. New Zealand Trade and Tourist Commissioner, Brussels, Belgium (office to be established shortly). Canada and United States — New Zealand Trade and Tourist Commissioner, Canada Permanent Building, 320 Bay Street, Toronto 2. New Zealand Trade and Tourist Commissioner, Los Angeles (office to be established shortly). South Africa — Mr. H. Middlebrook, 3 Natal Bank Buildings, Durban. Mr. H. J. Constable, P.O. Box 1909, Johannesburg. Ceylon — Mr. A. R. Hughes, Hong Kong Bank Buildings (P.O. Box 328), Colombo. Hong Kong — Mr. S. T. Williamson, P. & 0. Buildings, Hong Kong. ChinaMr. S. Hutchison, P.O. Box 355, Shanghai. Mr. C. G. Davis, care of Messrs. Hatch, Carter, and Co., Tientsin, North China. Fiji — Messrs. Brown and Joske, Ltd., Suva. Australia — New Zealand Trade and Tourist Commissioner, 14 Martin Place, Sydney. New Zealand Government Offices, Collins House, 360 Collins Street, Melbourne. Stores Control Board. The Department continues to be represented upon the Advisory Committee to the Stores Control Board, and has thereby kept in close contact with the nature and source of supply of the requirements of all Government Departments in respect to stores and equipment.

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