H.—4

1924. NEW ZEALAND.

STORES CONTROL BOARD (ANNUAL REPORT OF).

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Leave.

Sir, — Stores Control Board, Wellington, 12th June, 1924. I have the honour to submit herewith the annual report of the Stores Control Board for the period ended 31st March, 1924. I have, &c, F. J. Brooker, Secretary. The Hon. J. G. Coates, Chairman, Stores Control Board. REPORT. The year ended 31st March, 1924, has been one of steady development for the Stores Control Board. The total amount expended for stores during the year was, in round figures, £4,080,000. With the exception of a few small lines urgently required, tenders or quotations were invited for the whole of the stores purchased. For the requisitioning Departments over three hundred contracts were arranged, mostly for daily supplies of perishable stores, and more than ten thousand requisitions were received and dealt with. In addition general contracts available to all Departments have been arranged on very favourable terms for the following articles : Typewriters, motor-spirit, kerosene,, corrugated iron, motor-car parts. A commencement has been made with standardization. Typewriters, stationery, and drawingmaterials have been dealt with, and a number of other classes of stores are at present under consideration. Arrangements have also been made for the large purchasing Departments to supply from their stocks articles required, in small quantities by other Departments. This has proved convenient and very economical. The question of marine insurance has received a considerable amount of attention from the Board. Investigations disclose that on shipments arranged by the High Commissioner during the period 1900-1922 the total premiums paid amounted to £159,002, whilst the total claims recovered were £106,793, the difference —being the cost to the Government over and above the amounts recovered —is thus shown to be £52,209. The period under review includes the war period, which was abnormal. From 1900 to 1914 the total premiums paid were £36,751, and the total claims recovered were £9,653, the difference, representing the cost to the Government during this period, being £27,098. In other words, during this normal period of fifteen years the amount recovered from the insurance company was only a little in excess of one-fourth of the premiums paid. In addition, a considerable portion of the stores were imported c.i.f., the insurance being arranged by the suppliers. The actual figures are not therefore available, but it may be assumed that the amount recovered in proportion to the premiums paid is approximately the same as disclosed by the figures quoted above. As a result it has been decided to recommend the Government to carry its own marine risks, and the necessary legislation will be introduced during the present session. In addition to the purchase of stores, the Board is responsible for the disposal of all stores which have become unserviceable either as a result of fair wear-and-tear or obsolescence. All Departments having stores of any description for disposal advise the Board. If they are not required by any other