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The working of extended hours by sawmills directed under Regulation 20 of the Industrial Man-power Emergency Regulations has been subsidized from the War Expenses Account since the coming into force of the Timber Industry Labour Legislation Modification Order 1941 to the extent of 80 per cent, of the extra wages cost over and above ordinary rates —i.e., 80 per cent, of half-time. On 7th February, 1945, when the revocation of the Order became effective, the subsidy was increased to cover 80 per cent, of the extra cost for overtime at time-and-a-half rates worked during the week and on Saturday mornings, and 100 per cent, of the extra cost of overtime at double rates worked on Saturday afternoons. The Forest Service checks all claims from the industry for the subsidy and during the year has passed for payment amounts totalling £120,129 (£76,024). It is estimated that the additional production achieved as the result of this subsidy is 32,000,000 board feet (27,000,000). 103. Petrol and Tire Conservation and Vehicle and Tractor Supplies.—ln the use of petrol and tires by various sections of the industry the Forest Service has continued to act in an advisory and policing capacity to the Commissioner of Transport and the Oil Fuel Controller. It has also served the industry usefully in arranging for the supply of parts and new plant and for the hiring of tractors and other essential equipment. 104. Essential Supplies.—The removal of controls over saws, wire ropes, corrugated fasteners, hoop steel, &c., has resulted in the placing of large orders for these items, and with the easing of the supply position overseas some of these orders have already been met, but owing to the current shortage of other items appropriate recommendations have been made for increased importations. 105. Timber Purchases for Defence Works.—There were no activities under this heading, as the Forest Service ceased the purchase of timber for defence purposes towards the end of 1943. Subsidiary functions in the nature of liaison and advisory services, which were reported as continuing in last year's annual report, came to an end with the conclusion of hostilities. There still remains, however, the need to reconcile the timber-quantity schedules compiled from purchase records in the Timber Controller's office with those prepared from the contractors' records, and although considerable progress has been made with this task, detailed analysis of figures supplied for later composite contracts which were in part abandoned towards the end of the war will yet require some time. 106. Timber Control Notices. —The Timber Emergency Regulations 1939 were amended by the Timber Emergency Regulations 1939, Amendment No. 2 (Serial number 1945/100), which transferred Ministerial control from the Minister of Supply and Munitions to the Commissioner of State Forests. The following Timber Control Notices were issued pursuant to the Supply Control Emergency Regulations 1939 and the Timber Emergency Regulations 1939 : (a) Timber Control Notice No. 51 (Gazette, 1942, page 2825) required that insignis-pine timber should not be cut, sold, or used except for the manufacture of wooden containers, without the precedent consent of the Timber Controller. In order to keep an effective check on the sales of insignis-pine timber, a notice in the form of a circular letter dated 23rd April, 1945, was sent to all insignis-pine sawmillers requiring them to submit each month a return setting out particulars of all insignis pine sold during the preceding month. Following the cancellation of American orders for foodstuffs, there was a considerable reduction in the use of insignis pine for boxmaking, and it was possible from September, 1945, to ease the provisions of this Notice. At that juncture, however, as stocks held by boxmakers were generally low, and in view of the unknown demand for timber consequent upon orders placed by the British Ministry of Food and by UNRRA, it was not possible to remove the restrictions. The Notice has since been revoked by a Notice dated the 13th May, 1946, and published in Gazette, 1946, at page 686.

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