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128. A noteworthy development during the year has been the formation of a subsidiary of the Anglo-Iranian Oil Co., Ltd., London, to engage in the business of importation and distribution of petroleum products in New Zealand. The British Petroleum Co. of New Zealand, Limited, was registered on 19th December, 1946, with a capital of £2,500,000, of which the New Zealand Government holds 51 per cent, of the shares. There are three Government representatives on the Board of Directors. SECTION 14.—FACTORY CONTROL 129. The functions and authority of the Factory Controller, who is responsible directly to the Minister of Industries and Commerce are defined in the Factory Emergency Regulations 1939, which provides the authority for control to be exercised over factory production and materials either by direction of the Factory Controller or pursuant to the issue of control notices in respect of particular materials or commodities. 130. During the war period some 47 control notices were in operation, together with a number of ungazetted controls, but with the cessation of hostilities a policy has been followed of revoking these notices and eliminating the other controls at the earliest possible opportunity. The majority have now been cancelled, and at the close of the year under review only four gazetted controls remained in force—these affecting tinplate, cordage and fibre, paint, and the marking of clothing. In addition, the number of controls which still operate without gazetting (which in effect is public notice of the control) have been reduced, only a few controls covering such items as tobacco and cigarettes, container board, and paraffin wax now being current. 131. The Factory Emergency Regulations do, however, give the Controller power to exercise his direction over any materials or commodities, and whilst, as stated above, it is the general policy to remove all controls as soon as practicable, it has been deemed advisable to retain the general authority for such time as shortages in essential commodities persist. The present Factory Controller is Mr. D. W. Woodward, Assistant Director of the Industries Division of the Department of Industries and Commerce.

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