H—27

(i) Buildings Ex-Pacific Tn my last report reference was made to the acquisition of a large number of prefabricated steel buildings used extensively by the United States Forces in the Pacific. These, buildings have now arrived in New Zealand, and include 3 Butler hangars, 150 Quonset huts, 184 T.C.I, hospital-type buildings, and 61 T.C.I. Task Force type buildings. The Butler hangars and the Quonset huts have been taken over by the Public Works Department. The 245 T.C.I, buildings arrived in poor order and condition, but nevertheless have proved to be a valuable acquisition. To ensure that these buildings are utilized to the best advantage in the national interestsj allocation is made by the Commissioner of Works. Many have already been put into service as class-rooms and dormitories at schools and Universities, office accommodation for Government Departments, recreation rooms, &c, and one has been erected as a church. (j) Fuel-oil Tanks A large number of oil-tanks, mostly underground, have been declared surplus by Air Department and Public Works Department, ranging in capacity from 500 gallons to 750,000 gallons—s7 from 500 gallons to 11,000 gallons, and 10 over 11,000 gallons. The whole of the 57 smaller tanks have been disposed of, also one of 180,000 gallons, but all efforts to dispose of the balance have so far produced no results. (*) R.N.Z.A.F. Bulk Fuel Installation, Fiji With the assistance of the Ministry of Works and in consultation with the Chiefs of Staff, sale of the New Zealand Government's interest in this installation was negotiated with the Shell Company of Australia, Ltd. The installation consists of a number of large fuel-storage tanks, pipe lines, and equipment, together with a jetty and the equipment on the jetty. The sale was made subject to the completion of a form of agreement which, among other things, protects the interests of the Fijian Government which owns the site, and also provides for the holding and supplying of fuel-supplies satisfactory to the requirements of the R.N.Z.A.F. in the Pacific. (I) Disposal of Buildings The proceeds from the sale of buildings up to 31st March, 1947, are as follows :

The disposals as referred to above were spread as follows :- - £ (a) Auckland District .. .. .. .. 1,508,245 (6) Wellington District .. .. .. .. 692,888 (c) Nelson and Marlborough District .. .. .. 192,899 \d) South Island (less (c) ) .. .. .. .. 402,210 (e) Fiji .. .. .. .. .. .. 183,942 £2,980,184

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— To Government Departments. Other Sales. Total. Hales — To 31st March, 1946 For year ended 31st March, 1947 '.'. '.'. £ 570,227 732,758 £ 1,363,074 314,125 1,933,301 1,046,883 Total sales 1,302,985 1,677,199 2,980,184* * Buildings, £2,034,918; materials, £345,200.