H.—l9.

The total production from the outbreak of war up to the 30th April, 1941, was as follows : — Boots .. ..\ .. .. .. .. .. 356,473 pairs. Blankets, grey .. .. .. .. .. .. 185,046 pairs. Socks .. .. ... .. .. .. .. 758,482 pairs. Jerseys .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 115,955 Vests, under .. .. .. .. .. .. 283,741 Shorts, under .. .. .. .. .. .. 264,619 Shirts, flannel ... .. .. .. .. .. 220,872 Battle-dress blouses .. .. .. .. .. 110,084 Battle-dress trousers . . . . . . . . .. 110,875 Greatcoats .. .. .. .. .. .. 67,938 Jackets, S.D. .. .. '.. .. .. .. 41,116 Trousers, B.D. .. .. .. .. .. .. 90,806 Khaki drill jackets .. .. .. .. .. 40,855 Khaki drill trousers .. .. .. .. .. 40,091 Denim jackets .. .. .. ..-. .. .. 74,155 Denim trousers . . .. . . . . . . . . 76,881 Flannel shirting .. .. .. -.. .. .. 1,003,034 yards. Overcoating cloth .. .. .. .. .. .. 350,541 yards Worsted cloth .. .. .. .. .. .. 472,679 yards. Shipments'overseas from the outbreak of war up to the 30th April, 1941, were as follows :— To N.Z.E.F.— Battle-dress trousers .. .. .. .. .. 25,183 Blouses, battle-dress .. .. .. .. .. 22,574 Boots, R.F 121,491 Buttons, N.Z.F.— Large ■ .. 28,800 Small .. .. .. .. .. .. 28,800 Cap 11,520 Caps, F.S • 15,700 Greatcoats, D.S. .. .. .. .. .. 7,319 Housewives .. .. .. .. .. .. 4,100 Jerseys .. .. .. .. .. .. 13,160 Laces .. .. .. .. .. .. 4,000 pairs. Shotts, woollen, under .. .. .. .. .. 52,216 Shirts, flannel .. .. .. .. .. ..' 66,425 Socks, woollen .. .. .. .. .. 299,435 pairs. Blankets .. .. .. .. .. .. 13,500 Vests, woollen, under .. .. .. .. .. 58,373 Hats .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 600 Towels .. .. .. .. .. .. 300 Armlets .. .. .. .. .. .. 980 Hat-bands .. .. .. .. .. .. 4,000 Jackets, S.D. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,648 Trousers, S.D. .. .. .. .. .. 1,648 To the Government of India— Trousers, battle-dress .... .. .. .. .. 29,000 Blouses, battle-dress .. .. .. .. .. 29,000 Socks .. .. .. .. .. ... 30,000 pairs. Greatcoating .. .. .. . . .. .. 10,000 yards. Blankets .. ' .. .. .. .. .. 20,000 Grey flannel .. .. .. .. .. ... 15,000 yards. To Greece — Socks .. .. .. .. .. .. 10,000 pairs. Blankets .. .. .. .. .. .. 10,000 Jerseys .. .. .. • .. .. .. 2,000 (i) General. The general activities of the Ordnance Branch have been enormously increased during the year largely owing to the expansion of the Territorial Force and its period of training. In addition to the provision of clothing for the home-defence forces, the Ordnance Services have undertaken the provision of clothing for the maintenance of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force overseas, and has also made available a considerable quantity of clothing and blankets for the Government of India. The Ordnance Depots generally have been actively engaged on the receipt and inspection of cloth and clothing received from contractors, and receipt, classification, dry-cleaning, and renovation of clothing returned from Territorial and Cadet units and mobilization camps. The inspection of rifles, medium machine guns, and light machine guns on issue to the Territorial units and mobilization camps has also been carried out. The provision of camp equipment and training stores, so far as the resources of the country would permit, has been undertaken, but considerable difficulty in this direction has been experienced owing to the shortage of raw materials. The provision of adequate and competent staffs has proved a very serious problem. The loss of a number of experienced personnel from both the clerical and the store divisions, by appointment to commissions to fill important positions and to form the nucleus of the Ordnance unit with the Expeditionary Force, and the replacement of these men by others with less qualifications and experience from outside sources, have hampered work generally, and the constant changes of staff have militated against efficiency.

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