H—l9A

1947 NEW ZEALAND

CANTEEN BOARD REPORT AND STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1946

Laid on the Table of both Houses of the General Assembly by Leave

A report on the operations of the Canteen Board to date, together with Trading and Profit and Loss Accounts and Balance-sheet for year ended 31st March, 1946, is submitted hereunder. The following are at present members of the Board, which was established under the Defence Canteen Emergency Kegulations 1939 : Hon. F. Jones (Chairman). Commander (S) H. R. Sleeman, M.B.E. Lieutenant-Colonel C. J. S. Duff, D.S.O. Air Commodore Sidney Wallingford, C.8.E., A.D.C. B. C. Ashwin, Esquire. R. P. Eraser, Esquire. Mr. H. F. Hartnell is Secretary of the Board. . Mr. J. H. Slater, who was appointed Secretary of the Board in January, 1941, resigned towards the close of the financial year, and this opportunity is taken of placing on record an appreciation of Mr. Slater's untiring efforts in successfully administering the Board's activities under most difficult conditions. The Secretary of the Board is responsible for giving effect to the Board's policy, including staffing, purchasing, supply, and accounting. These functions are performed by a section of the New Zealand Government Public Service, of which the Secretary is the Officer in Charge. The Board has continued to provide canteen service for Navy, Army, and Air Force units in New Zealand and in the Pacific. The following facts, which have been included in previous reports, are reiterated for general information : Small units which have not been brought within the scope of the Board's retail organization have the facility of purchasing from bulk stores operated by the Board. Members of all Services are thus assured of having access to available lines. Low administration expenses have again been maintained, the cost being 0-59 per cent, of revenue. The availability of large supplies of American goods from the United States Post Exchange in the Pacific enabled the Board to provide an extensive and appreciated service overseas. The fact of these goods being available outside New Zealand afforded considerable relief to local manufacturers, with consequent benefit to the civilian market. Following the reduction in service personnel since VJ Day, the Board's operations in the Pacific have been discontinued, with the exception of Norfolk Island and Fiji. The male staff providing the actual selling service in New Zealand has been mainly composed of returned soldiers or men ineligible for service overseas. Following the considerable reduction in turnover, and the general policy of releasing members of W.AA.C. and W.A.A.F. where possible,' male and female staff have been reduced to keep in line with present-day requirements.