N.Z. ARMY STORES

Grey River Argus, 8 September 1945, Page 7

N.Z. ARMY STORES

THE SURPLUSES HAMILTON, September 4. An inspection of the huge stores depot and repair stations at Te Rapa, Hamilton and Rukuhia was made by Group Captain G. J. Denton, chief inspector of equipment, who explained the system adopted in dealing with obsolete and unrepairable 'aeroplane parts. Material taken from crashed planes, and no longer of any use to the Ail’ Force, is sold to be melted down and disposed of as scrap metal. Smaller equipment is thoroughly examined and, if found jxot suitable fox' economic repair, is discarded and dumped. Tyres, petrol tank covers and other rubber equipment are closely inspected and, if found beyond repair, sold to rubber dealers. Surplus equipment with a commercial value and for which no use could be found by the Air Force is sorted out and held for disposal by the War Assets Realisation Board. A valuable assortment of used tools now in store at Te Rapa came under this category. There is a collection of 40,000 valves at Te Rapa held ready for bulk sale. Group Captain Denton said there are seven large stores at Te Rapa, with a flooi' space of 150,000 square feet packed with aeroplane eqquipment of all kinds. The stores now form a receiving depot for used aircraft equipment from the whole of the North Island, most of the South Island and the former Pacific theatre of war. All articles were numbered and over 8000 tally cards are kept, on which a record is Tent of the movement of all the goods held m the store. . J , Every effort is made to realise the <ull market value of goods sold. Obviously, nothing like replacement values could be obtained for the equipment now that fffie war vas over, but losses are reduced to a minimum. Group Captain Denton said he had no knowledge of the Governments intentions with respect to disposal ol the large numbei’ of fully-equipped aeroplanes held at Rukuhia, ox - of the effect of lend-lease arrangements. It was probable that the Te Rapd stores would become permanent Air Force fixtures.