H—44

PART I.—INTRODUCTORY SECTION I.—ORGANIZATION Although three years have passed since active hostilities ceased, conditions affecting industry and trade induced by the war continue to influence the operations of this Department. Conditions of demand for and supply of goods and the over-burdening of sea transport in relation to facilities available are such that it has not yet been to the general interest to revoke all of the wartime legislation administered by the Department. My Department realizes the important role it is playing in the industrial and commercial life of the country and will continue to assist to the utmost extent possible with a view to maintaining and enhancing the progress of this vital section of the national economy. Branch offices and overseas offices remain as they were given in my report last year. There has been one important organizational development in that the Control of Prices Act, 1947, gave permanent status to the Price Tribunal, which now functions as a Division of this Department. There continue to be associated with the Department the following: — The Food and Rationing Controller. The Wheat and Flour Controller. The Tobacco Board. The Factory Controller. The New Zealand Standards Institute. The Shipping Controller. The Linen Flax Corporation of New Zealand, in terms of section 18 of the Linen Flax Corporation Act, 1945, will be submitting a separate report. SECTION 2.—STAFF At 31st March, 1948, Mr. F. Johnson, who had for a number of years been Assistant Secretary of the Department, retired. The following table shows the distribution of staff as at 31st March, 1948 :

I wish to record here my sincere appreciation of the co-operation which I have experienced from my staff during a year in which the problems confronting us were wide in their scope and complex in their nature.

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— Overseas. Head Office, Wellington. Auckland. Christchurch. Dunedin. Total, 1948. Total, 1947. Department of Industries and Commerce Price Control Division Standards Institute Food and Rationing Control 20 170 126 53 42 16 49 12 9 19 4 5 12 5 220 206 53 63 263 186 59 76 20 391 77 32 22 542 584