MUNITIONS AND SUPPLIES

Otago Witness, Issue 3334, 6 February 1918, Page 7

MUNITIONS AND SUPPLIES

STATEMENT BY HON. A. M. MYERS. BIG ARMY BILL THIS YEAR. THE COAL SITUATION. A summary of recent activities of the Munitions and Supplies Department was given to a reporter of the Auckland Star by the Hon. A. M. Myers, Minister in Charge. Dealing with the military supplies purchase branch, Mr. Myers said that, according to the estimates which he had caused to be prepared, as far as could be judged the miiitarv authorities would require goods to the value of £1,300,000 for the calendar year 1918. "The schedules of likely requirements," he added, "have been very carfully scrutinised with a view to procuring what is needed in the most economical way. A large proportion of the business is. represented by supplies of cloth and woollen materials which are being produced by various New Zealand woollen mills. As regards making the quantities up into uniforms, contracts have this week been let to successful tenderers at satisfactory prices, although some are _ slightly in advance of 1917 prices, which is accounted for by the fact that the cost of linings, buttons, etc., has considerably advanced, and that there is also a slight increase in the cost of labour, due to war bonuses." In regard to military boots and shoes, Mr Myers stated., that tenders were at present under consideration, and ho hoped that those interested would know their position on his return to Wellington. "It will no .doubt be appreciated by all those in touch with markets," stated the Minister, " that under present conditions difficulties have to he overcome in securing large supplies of many commodities at reasonable prices. As an instance of this, the department has been brought to realise that the tender system of securing goods does not promote the competition of merchants which the method of buying intends to create., As a consequence of this, the department has to go into the market in the eamo way as mercantile houses would under similar circumstances have to do, and. in this connection, it is a source of satisfaction to me to have the benefit of the expert services of my advisers." GOODS FROM HOME. Referring to "priority permits," under which goods required for essential industries are obtained from Great Britain by arrangement with the British Ministry of Munitions, Mr Myers said that to date 4304 applications had been received. Of this number 4438 had been dealt with, and of the balance 37 were under action in the office and 29 under consideration. The total value of all orders' received to date was equivalent to £1,789.585. COAL DISTRIBUTION. The question of coal supplies, the distribution of which is under his control, was also dealt with by Mr Myers. A general shortage of coal, hard coal particularly, was making itself felt throughout the dominion, he remarked. The local coal trades committees established in the various centres had during the last two months found their time closely occupied in allocating the coal - supplies available, to tho best advantage. Tho policy of tho department bein"- in this connection to utilise such coal as is" available to the beet advantage from a. national point of view, it followed, therefore, that the requirements of the Admiralty, the railways, and the bunkering of overseas ships were those which must receive first consideration. At tho moment tho effects of the strikes (both in New Zealand and in Australia) in the early part of last year, the reduced output from the mines owing to the Christinas holidays, and increased consumption, were still being felt. Every effort, however, was being made to secure all availabel tonnage for tho purpose of supplementing the Now Zealand output by im-

portations, but in this direction, with tho world-wide shortage of shipping, one could not bo optimistic