COLLECTIVE BUYING

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3151, 1 August 1917, Page 5

COLLECTIVE BUYING

PURCHASE OF SUPPLIES FOR SOLDIERS OPERATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT The operations of tho Munitions and : supplies Department are summarised in a memorandum prepared 1 by the Minister in charge of the ' Department (the Hon. A. 11. Myers). ■■■- ■■■ This Department controls the purchase of supplies to tho order of the Minister ot Defence,' and the report is that the arrangement hns worked •' admirably, so that economy and high quality "lave been preserved. The estimates for the current calendar year are as follow:—' - ;; ... ■ (a) Stores „ 727,510 (b) Snpplies..- ~..-.568,918■•■ (c) Drugs ~n,450 (d) Contingencies 86,112 __ Total .£1,400,000 ': Ordere to the value of .£668,846 have already been placed, this expenditure re- , presenting the purchase of over six million articles. I The cost of the equipment issued to every man is jei6-os. 4s. . Last year the ":. value was £ 3 16s. 8 l-3d., and in 1915 it was £12 ss. 7d. The value of accoutrements is £S 365. lid. Last year it was £8 9s. lljd:, and in 1915 £5 10s., The biggest increase is in the value of the rifle. ' In 1915 the value of the rifle was set down at .=63 4s. 3d., and this year it is £o ISs. Gd. ■ ■■-. The Minister makes the following general comment on the purchase of personal equipment:— "It will be remembered by those in» terested that the heavy ordoip for military goods placed witih the New Zealand woollen mills for delivery .during; the calendar year 1916 prevented the mills satis- ] fying a large volume of their private trade, with the result that warehouse stocks in certain lines became depleted. In view of this, and of the fact that the storage accommodation at the difl- i .. posal of the Defence Department was somewhat overtaxed, I arranged for de- ■ ■, liveries of balk goods under the 1917 ; contracts to commence during April last,;, thus giving the mills an opportunity to fulfil some of their private trade orders in the early part of this year, and at the same time affording the Director of Equipment and Ordnance Stores temporary relief from the extensive task connected, with receiving and examining woollen goods and uniform clothing. "For the year 1917 an improved quality of khaki uniform cloth has bean so-; cured. A better quality material fur; pantaloon cloth, for mounted _ men. has been, manufactured in the Dominion, and a decided improvement in the cut of the pantaloons has been effected; the latter; .V:'. boing the result of an observation made' in Egypt by one of ouir New Zealand officers, which was duly, referred to my! ■ ■ - experts (Messrs. Kirkcaldie and Morri-i, \ son). Overcoating cloth has •- been improved, and is now subjected , to a proofing process which, while not ten- ::■ doring the overcoats assiste.' V in turning the water. The putties nowi. ; being secured aw all woven ones, andi . : are much more popular amongst both.j '■■ the officers and the men than the clothi' ,: putties issued under necessity during the : -.:. vear 1916. An effort has been made to 'adopt some standard colour for all uniform cloths and overcoatings, but owing to the difficulties of the dye trade, the . ■. woollen, mills, while they lave>been successful in approaching the standard enade required, have not in all instances been able to get as near to the standard as could have been wished; but it mil be observed that better results in this re- , ; spect have been secured than durm S last 5 size and weight of blankets have been revised for the 1917 supply. They now measure 64in. by to, andl wwsh. 111b. per pair, this being the Imnenol i standard of weight. . , ' "Denim Suits.-In view of anticipated . increases in Taw cotton, it was deemed Sable early in October, 1916, to cover •. r\qtoeWs for the year were accordingly placed with two of the . largest British manufacturers for WOOO va* of material, with spread deliveries throughout this year The pneepart for thfe material was IOJd. per yard,;and the . wisdom of Dlacing orders so far ahead •, iT shown fact that to-day's price \t in the neighbourhood of 2s. per yard. ! towSs VaTall been indented at favour- ~ ab «Th P e ri rSkts of the Department's activities since its inception and during H. n list vear in particular Teveal to mo : advu&. which Mow theeentolionfinn of buvine operations under tne ttif conM one Lponsible ■ It is satisfactory to note that such a, > Bvstem enables estimates to be made as .-- far as possible of likely .requirements, thus giving time to make the best use of expert advice in looking ahead into , the position of the markets affected be- • foro purchasing. Again, the grouping to- . v oether of email orders from a variety or , sources frequently results in one substantial quantity being purchased, wvUi a corresponding-reduction in price. Economy is further effected in so far as un- <-. necessary competition is j avoided when ;■ buvin" operations ate conducted from cne centre" instead of several branches, "each ■; : buying for themselves the same fort or Sin the same market. It is tother - q Conetrated to me that a wide field is j open in the' Government service, to the pracKcal application or the pnnciplβ now generally foHowd- by ■ faoturing houses, namely, standardising equipment, instead of sanctioning tho ■ pnvnlovment of a variety of articles all = ditS™n themselves but utilised for , similar purpose. . .■