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PART I.—INTRODUCTORY SECTION I.—ORGANIZATION 1. The close of the period under review marks the completion of a full year's operation of the Department of Industries and Commerce as reconstituted by Government decision in November, 1945. The period has, necessarily, been one of adjustment, the character of the work performed by the Department being influenced, to an extent, by the changing conditions resulting from the gradual reconversion of industry and commerce from wartime to peacetime conditions, and by the general unbalanced state of world economy. Emergency legislation administered by the Department is constantly being reviewed, with the object of revoking the regulations, wherever practicable, at the earliest possible moment. The volume of departmental business transacted has continued at a high level, fully taxing the capacity of a staff, which is gradually being reduced in numbers in relation to the preceding war years. 2. The organization of the Department has been on a divisional basis, the Industries Division being primarily concerned with the problems of New Zealand's manufacturing industries, and the Commerce Division with the Department's responsibility in external aspects of trade and commerce. The Industries Division is further subdivided into four main groups which, except for minor changes in classification, have remained unaltered during the year, viz. : Building and Metal Products Division, including building materials, paper, fibres, containers, metal toys, and glass. Chemicals, Oil, and Rubber Division, including chemicals, oils, rubber, tobacco, and foods. Engineering and Transport Division, including machinery, transport equipment, electrical, and radio goods. Textiles and Leather Division, including textiles —woollen, cotton and rayon — footwear, and leathercraft. 3. The Bureau of Industry, which was constituted under the Industrial Efficiency Act, 1936, and is concerned with industries licensed under that Act, together with the Industries Committee, which is set up within the Department to discharge the responsibilities connected with the import licensing system, both perform functions which are, in a sense, complementary to the work of the Industries Division. 4. Specialized sections operating inside the Head Office organization include the Accounts Section, Stores Control Section, Library and Information Service, ShippingSection, Staff and Records Sections. Branch offices are maintained in New Zealand at Auckland, Christchurch, and Dunedin, and overseas offices at London, Washington, New York, Montreal, Bombay, Tokio, Sydney, and Melbourne. In addition, Honorary New Zealand Government Representatives are located at San Francisco, Honolulu, Vancouver, Durban, Johannesburg, Bombay, Hong Kong, Suva, and Tientsin. 5. Associated with the Department, but operating either under specific legislative authority or by virtue of War Emergency Regulations, are — The Price Tribunal. The Food and Rationing Controller. The Wheat and Flour Controller. The Tobacco Board. The New Zealand Linen Flax Corporation. The Factory Controller. The New Zealand Standards Institute. The Shipping Controller.

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