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Co-operative Building, Wanganui; Thanes Building, Wanganui; Horsley's Garage, Wanganui; Taranaki Street (Bulk Store), Wellington ; Todd Motors (Clothing Bulk Store), Victoria Street, Christchurch ; New Zealand Railways Building (Clothing Bulk Store), Moorhouse Avenue, Christchurch; Briscoe's Building (Clothing Bulk Store), Dunedin ; Otago Steam Laundry (Overseas Bulk Store), Dunedin. Rented Premises Eighty-one tenancies, for which the annual rental totalled £17,845 7s. 6d., were released by the Army during the year. In the latter part of the year the rate of vacation of such premises was accelerated, and the figures for the coming year will show a further increase in the number of premises surrendered and a corresponding decrease in the annual rental' paid. Loan and Gift Binoculars The return of loan and gift binoculars to their original owners has progressed steadily. Of the 9,154 binoculars received by the Army Department under these headings, 8,264 have been returned. Impressed Rifles A total of 23,604 rifles was received by the Army under the regulations governing the impressment of rifles. Of this number, 22,793 have been returned to their original owners, or, where it has not been possible to return the rifle through loss or conversion, the owner has been paid compensation. Arms, Ammunition, and Equipment On the cessation of hostilities immediate action was taken to cancel outstanding orders placed overseas, with the exception of those for items required to complete equipments already in the country and maintenance and modification stores. The following table of yearly requisition values illustrates how these demands were equated to the war situation : Year ended £ 31st March, 1943 .. .. ~ .. .. 44,830,000 31st March, 1944 .. .. .. .. .. 7,300,000 31st March, 1945 .. .. .. .. .. 173,000 31st March, 1946 .. .. .. .. .. 94,000 Ordnance Workshops Work of a general nature in all shops has been fairly heavy, in spite of the closing down of units. It has been mainly the overhaul and repair of stores returned by units and the inspection and dismantling of stores for disposal by War Assets Realization Board. Machinery in all workshops has been maintained and is in excellent condition. Motor Transport Branch A total of 25,664 jobs has passed through Army motor transport workshops, including work for Navy and Air Force. A vehicle-reception depot has been opened in each military district for the valuation and disposal by War Assets Realization Board of vehicle surpluses of Navy, Army, and Air Force. During the year disposals totalled over 6,000 vehicles, including 4,440 through War Assets Realization Board to Government Departments and the public, 616 to British Pacific Fleet, and 770 (principally motor-cycles) to United States authorities. To assist rehabilitation, Motor Transport Equipment Section has operated a store selling £20,000 of used tools to 1,170 ex-servicemen.

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