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technical information has continued to provide valuable service to commercial interests, and approximately two thousand inquiries regarding subjects covered in the Bulletin have been received from industrial interests. In addition, over two hundred special reports have been provided on subjects not covered in the Bulletin. 174. Arising out of the Bagnall Report on Departmental Libraries, which was issued during the year, plans have been formulated for closer integration in the development of departmental libraries. In addition, centralization of book ordering will eliminate unnecessary duplication. 175. Liaison and co-operation with public libraries have been developed and extended during the year, and full use has been made of the inter-library loan scheme. (b) Exhibitions and Industrial Fairs 176. An Inter-departmental Committee has been formed to co-ordinate the work of Departments wishing to exhibit at industrial fairs and exhibitions, and the main administrative functions of the Committee are handled by this Department. A Government Court was provided for the New Zealand Industries Fair at Christchurch in August, 1946, and eleven Departments were represented. The fair was an outstanding success, and the combined display of the Government Departments attracted favourable attention. A New Zealand display was also arranged as part of the British Empire Exhibition at the Royal Agricultural Society's Show in Sydney. 177. Plans are also being made for New Zealand to be represented at the Canadian National Exhibition at Toronto in August, 1947, and at the Otago Provincial Centenary in February and March, 1948. SECTION 3.—MOTION-PICTURE INDUSTRY 178. The Department administers the Cinematograph Film Regulations 1937, issued under the Board of Trade Act, and carries out investigations when applications are received for competitive locations. Few applications have been received under these regulations in the past year, as lack of materials have prevented the erection of a number of theatres. In addition, the Department is represented in the Film Industry Board, which comprises representatives of the film-exchanges, chain theatre exhibition groups, independent theatres, and the Chief Inspector of Films under the Cinematograph Films Act. 179. The following are the main statistics of the motion-picture industry for the year ended 31st March, 1946 : Paid admissions to theatres .. .. .. .. 36,965,771 Gross receipts .. .. .. .. .. £2'817'646 Average charge for admission . . .. .. 18-3 d. The number of theatres showing films increased by seventeen over the previous year. 180. Renovations and new constructional work is overdue in many theatres, but present indications are that materials and labour will not be available for this work for some time to come.

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