H—3o

The regulations provided for compulsory auction sales in order to ensure the fulfilment of the above matters and for the appointment of a Pelt Controller to carry out the regulations. Mr. J. J. Evans, the General Manager of the New Zealand Meat-producers' Board, was appointed Pelt Controller, and he reports the results of the sales of pickled pelts for the 1946-47 season as under :

Sales of Pickled Pelts, 1946-47 Season

Of the total realizations of £5,142,666, £2,297,139 was paid to Vendors or Producers and £2,845,527 credited to Meat Industry Stabilization Account. LINEN FLAX The annual report for 1941 sets out the terms of sale to the United Kingdom Ministry of Supply of New Zealand's export production of linen flax fibre for the period of hostilities and one year after. This contract was extended to cover production up to the end of the 1946 season. A further contract for the supply of 100 tons from the 1947 season's production has been arranged with the Board of Trade. Shipments from Ist August, 1946, to 31st July, 1947, were as under:— Tons. Cwt. Linen-flax fibre and reiss .. .. .. .. 457 10 Tow and pluckings .. .. .. .. .. 271 8 728 18 The total value f.o.b. (New Zealand currency) of these exports was £133,625. UNRRA AND CORSO It has been agreed to accept responsibility for shipment of goods on behalf of these organizations, and the Department's shipping officer has been making the necessary applications for space and arranging for shipment of a great variety of products. SUNDRY SUPPLIES FOR WAR OFFICE During the year, supplies of food products have been shipped under contract to the War Office. The value of the products shipped during the twelve months ended 31st July, 1947, is £323,953 (New Zealand currency). The accounts covering the purchase and sale transactions of the Department in connection with these United Kingdom War Office supplies are shown in the accounts section at the end of this report, page 55. The surplus for the year ended 31st July, 1947, is £l5O.

43

Method of Disposal. Sheep. Lambs. Total Value. Destination. Number of Dozen. Value. Average per Dozen. Number of Dozen. Value. Average per Dozen. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ Auction 65 305 319,276 97 9 460,417 1,947,908 84 7 2,267,184 U.S.A. Auction 84 236 482,675 114 7 136,093 566,977 83 4 1,049,652 U.K. Auction 3 120 17,669 113 8 2,337 8,810 75 5 26,479 Holland. Auction 17 886 100,145 112 0 2,007 6,623 66 0 106,768 Belgium. Auction 475 1,703 71 8 10,923 35,139 64 4 36,842 Australia. Auction 10,996 41,228 75 0 41,228 Canada. Auction 8,050 34,262 85 1 34,262 Sweden. Auction io! 00 00 57^241 105 6 4,770 13,811 57 11 71,052 France. Total Auction 181. ,870 978,709 107 8 635,593 2,654,758 83 6 3,633,467 Allocated to U.K. 85. ,170 415,531 97 7 299,985 952,753 63 6 1,368,284 U.K. Allocated to local tanners 33. ,941 75,361 44 5 40,160 65,554 32 8 140,915 Local tanners. 300,981 1,469,601 97 7 975,738 3,673,065 75 3 5,142,666