STORES CONTROL BOARD (ANNUAL REPORT OF).

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1933 Session I, H-04

H.—4.

1933. NEW ZEALAND.

STORES CONTROL BOARD (ANNUAL REPORT OF).

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Leave.

Stores Control Board, Wellington, 29th August, 1933. The Hon. J. Bitchener, Chairman, Stores Control Board. I have the honour to submit herewith the annual report of the Stores Control Board for the year ended 31st March, 1933. P. Ellerm, Acting Secretary.

REPORT.

Purchases. During the year ended 31st March, 1933, the expenditure on the purchase of stores, as compared with the year ended 31st March, 1932, was as under : — Year ended Year ended 31st March, 1932. 31st March, 1933. £ £ Railways .. .. .. .. .. 1,048,570 897,104 Public Works .. .. .. .. .. 859,666 371,978 Post and Telegraph .. .. .. .. 124,114 124,276 Mental Hospitals .. .. .. .. 170,809 165,238 Naval .. .. .. .. .. .. 74,898 76,436 Defence .. .. .. .. .. 18,238 36,660 Health 37,111 34,714 Printing and Stationery .. .. .. .. 32,281 41,131 Prisons.. .. .. .. . .. 42,169 40,990 Lands and Survey .. .. .. .. 34,323 19,120 Education .. .. .. .. .. 29,034 29,521 State Forest Service .. .. .. .. 11,927 12,720 Agriculture .. .. .. .. .. 42,083 43,672 Marine .. .. .. .. .. .. 16,760 15,265 Mines .. .. .. .. .. .. 19,021 16,598 Native .. .. .. .. .. .. 117,465 102,385 Industries and Commerce, Tourist and Publicity .. 21,274 20,649 Other Departments .. .. .. .. 57,471 61,241 Total .. .. .. .. ..£2,757,214 £2,109,698 The expenditure on stores shows a reduction of £647,516, or over 23 per cent., when compared with the previous year. The purchases during the past ten years were as under :— £ £ 1924 .. .. .. 4,080,000 1929 .. .. .. 4,199,822 1925 .. .. .. 4,416,833 1930 .. .. .. 4,345,030 1926 .. .. .. 4,690,569 1931 .. .. .. 4,286,803 1927 .. .. .. 3,877,275 1932 .. .. .. 2,757,214 1928 .. .. .. 3,947,117 1933 .. .. .. 2,109,698

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With the exception of a few instances where circumstances were too urgent to allow of the usual procedure being followed, tenders or quotations were invited for the whole of the stores purchased. Sales tax and fluctuating exchange-rates have raised special features in connection with the purchase of stores, necessitating the revision of tender conditions and special consideration being given to these factors when reviewing tenders received. General Contracts. At the 31st March, 1933, contracts arranged by the Board were in operation for the supply of the undermentioned stores to all Departments : — Batteries for motor-vehicles. Electric lamps. Bricks, fireclay, earthenware pipes, and fittings. Motor-lubricating oik Brushware —painters' and general. Motor-spirit and kerosene. Candles, soap, and soda. Motor-tires. Cement. Photographic work. Coal, coke, and firewood. Polish —metal, floor, and boot. Disinfectant. Typewriters. In addition to the above, numerous departmental contracts were also in operation, the principal items concerned being as under : — Aviation-spirit. Foodstuffs (milk, bread, fish, poultry, hams, and bacon, &c). Fuel oil for Navy and Government ships. Lubricating-oil for M.v. " Maui Pomare." Tobacco for Mental Hospitals. Uniforms for messengers. Owing to the unstable market conditions the contract system of purchasing stores has not been extended during the year. Contractors' Service. The service given by contractors during the year has, in general, been efficient and satisfactory. It is pleasing to record instances where contractors have voluntarily reduced contract prices consequent on the fall in the wholesale market prices of the lines supplied. Preference to New Zealand and British Manufacturers. During the year the policy of preference to New Zealand and British manufacturers has been maintained.

Approximate Cost of Paper.—Preparation, not given ; printing (440 copies), £1 128. 6d.

By Authority: G. H. Loney, Government Printer, Wellington.- 1933. Price 3d.]

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