AIR FORCE STORES

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 September 1945, Page 8

AIR FORCE STORES

HUGE SUPPLIES REPORTED. The failure of a Royal New Zealand Air Force stores depot to cancel outstanding orders on manufacturers for articles of clothing when the quantities held in store were already sufficient to satisfy Air Force requirements for some years ahead is commented upon in the annual report of the Controller ’ and Auditor-General for th'e year ended March 31. The report quotes the examples of black ties, woollen vests, and blue-grey shirts. . ■ , At No. 2 Stores Depot, one of the four large stores depots maintained by me Air Department to satisfy the .requirements of all stations, there were 31.942 ties in stock. Approximately 6400 were issued last year, but there were still 22,000 to be delivered. There were 21,437 woollen vests in stock, approximately 4100 were issued last year, and 12,000 were still to be delivered. . The number of shirts in stock was 31,902, and there were still 6000 to come. Last year approximately 8000 were issued. In a recent report the chief inspector of equipment says that the other depots are overstocked in garments. One of them is reported as having 20,000 blankets available for disposal. Dealing with the stores of the R.N.Z.A.F., the report states that last vear the Controller and Auditor-Gen-eral said that a decided general improvement had been effected in the state of the stores accounts at stations, and that if the rate of improvement continued it should be possible for him to report this year that the accounts were satisfactory. Unfortunately he was unable to do so, as the accounts at some stations were still not up to the desired standard. As was the case last year, the main weakness lay in stores in use and not so much in stocks held in store. SUBSTANTIAL LOSSES Substantial losses of all types of stores belonging to the 3rd Division of the 2nd N.Z.E.F., including compasses, binoculars, watches, pistols, tommy guns, and engineering tools, are reported in the section dealing with Army stores. The losses occurred while the stores were in transit from New Caledonia to New Zealand. From the preliminary report of a court of inquiry, which has still to complete its inquiry, it would appear that the losses took place at Nev/ Caledonia, on ship, and after being landed in New Zealand. The report adds that as a result of'the time and labour that were being expended in the effort to retrieve clothing and equipment from discharged soldiers it was agreed to take no action where the articles were of a total value of less than 10/- or were of use lor military purposes«only. This action was taken as the cost was proving greater than the value of the recoveries. Inspectors of the Audit Department' have been engaged mostly on the clearing of accounts of disbanded units. As the personnel have usually been discharged or are overseas, difficulty has been experienced in getting lull information about transactions in question or explanations of what appear to be surpluses and deficiencies. .In view of the cost and the unprofitable use of manpower, the allowing of accounts to stand uncleared is being considered.

Referring to the Navy, the report slates that the accounts at the naval base have been the subject of adverse reports for the last two or three years. The position is now greatly improved, although much still remains to be done.