BUYING STATE STORES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18771, 26 July 1924, Page 11

BUYING STATE STORES.

FOUR MILLIONS A YEAR.

EXCEPTIONALLY GOOD TERMS. Reference is made in ' the Financial Statement to the operations of ; the Stores Control Board. The expenditure on stores for the last financial year was, in ronnd figures. £4,080,000. iWith the exception of a few small lines urgently required, tendors or quotations were invited for the whole of the stores purchased. The standardisation of stores in common use by departments has been proceeded with and general contracts for the standardised article or line -Jiave been arranged with satisfactory results, said Mr. Massey. It is found that merchants and manufacturers are prepared to quote exceptionally good terms and render the best service to a central authority which can, make binding contracts on behalf of all the Government departments. The board's effort in this direction has been limited; by a continuance of unstable markets, but the policy will be steadily pursued and extended as opportunities arise. The disposal of surplus and obsolete stores has been reviewed and placed on a, much more satisfactory basis. Departments are now required to obtain the board's authority before effecting a sale. In practically all cases an expert valuation is made. The method of shipping material and stores for Government departments from the Un'ted Kingdom has been reorganised. As the result of an agreement made with the shipping companies, an annual saving in freight charges of about £5000 has been effected. It is estimated that action now being taken in connection with the marine insurance cover on such material and stores will further reduce the total cost of imported goods by not less than £2000 annually. :