ir. -4.

Contracts. At the 31st March, 1937, 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. Brushware —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 Diesel engines. Ink —cyclostyle, fountain-pen, and writing. Motor-vehicle lubricating oils and greases. Motor-spirit and kerosene. Motor-tires. Oxygen and acetylene gases. Paper, carbon, toilet, and wrapping. Polish, metal, floor, and paste. Sensitized papers 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 were also arranged throughout the year, the principal items concerned being—• Artificial limbs. Aviation-spirit. Boots for Defence Department. 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 m.v. " Maui Pomare." Medicines for Native schools. Samoan banana-cases. Tobacco for Mental Hospitals Department. Toothbrushes for Naval ratings. Uniforms for messengers. The service rendered by contractors during the year has, in general, been efficient and satisfactory. Adjustment op Contract Prices. Twenty-nine applications were dealt with for variation of contract prices to cover additional costs due to the payment of higher wages and the introduction of the forty-hour week as a result of alterations to the law which took effect after the contracts had been let, and variation of the contract prices was agreed to in all cases where the contractors' claims were substantiated by investigation by the Department of Industries and Commerce. Purchase of Stores at Palmerston North. In June, 1936, the District Storekeeper, Public Works Department, Palmerston North, was appointed the purchasing officer for stores required by Government Departments (other than Railways and Post and Telegraph Departments) in that city and the surrounding district. Satisfactory prices have been obtained., and local purchase has enabled supplies to be delivered promptly. Preference to New Zealand and British Manufacturers. The policy of preference to New Zealand and British manufacturers has been maintained throughout the year. Approximate Cost of Paper.—Preparation, not given ; printing (500 copies). £2.

By Authority: E. V. Paul, Government Printer, Wellington.—l 937.

Price 3d.]

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