H.—4.

1931. NEW ZEALAND.

STORES CONTROL BOARD (ANNUAL REPORT OF).

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Leave.

Stores Control Board, Wellington, sth August, 1931. Sir,— I have the honour to submit herewith the annual report of the Stores Control Board for the period ended 31st March, 1931. I have, &c., P. Ellerm, Acting Secretary. The Hon. W. B. Taverner, Chairman, Stores Control Board.

REPORT". Purchases. During the year ended 31st March, 1931, the total expenditure on stores amounted to the sum of £4,286,803 17s. lid. Department. Amount. £ s. d. Railways .. .. .. .. .. 1,739,133 2 0 Public Works .. .. .. .. .. 1,368,394 5 2 Post and' Telegraph .. .. .. .. .. 347,273 3 3 Mental Hospitals .. .. .. .. 190,515 0 5 Naval .. .. .. .. .. . .. 87,458 1 5 Defence .. .. .. .. .. .. 29,144 7 5 Health.. .. .. .. .. .. .. 44,327 5 2 Printing and Stationery .. .. .. .. .. 78,548 9 2 Prisons.. .. .. .. .. .. .. 49,315 12 3 Lands and Survey .. .. .. .. .. 39,269 1 4 Education .. .. .. .. .. .. 50,369 12 9 State Forest Service .. .. .. ~ .. 26,583 17 7 Agriculture .. .. .. .. .. .. 36,153 7 2 Marine .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 27,242 10 1 Mines .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 26,998 19 1 Other Departments .. .. .. .. .. 146,077 3 8 Total .. .. .. .. .. £4,286,803 17 11 The purchases during the previous five years were as under : — £ s. d. 1926 .. .. .. .. .. .. 4,690,569 8 8 1927 .. .. .. .. .. .. 3,877,275 4 7 1928 .. .. .. . .. .. 3,947,117 11 6 1929 .. .. .. .. .. .. 4,199,822 15 5 1930 .. .. . .. .. . 4,345,030 15 11