F.—l.

In addition to fostering the development of the telephone-exchange service and to securing orders for advertising-space in telephone directories, the Branch has now taken over the selling of advertising-space on blotting-pads used on the public desks at many post-offices, a work whieh was previously in the hands of an advertising agent. The revenue from telephone-directory and blotting-pad advertising considerably relieves the Department in the matter of expenditure involved in printing telephone directories and in providing blotting-pads for use on public desks. STORES BRANCH. The following statement indicates the value of stores received and issued in the Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, and Wellington storekeeping districts during the year, and the value of stocks held at the end of the year. For the purpose of comparison, the particulars for the previous year are shown also : —

The total value of orders placed during the year was £124,114. Of this amount, £92,343 represented the cost of stores for supply from within the Dominion, while £31,771 represented the cost of stores for supply from overseas. The total value of orders placed during the previous year was £348,772. The total value of stores purchased by the Department under contracts arranged by the Stores Control Board was £31,354, including £26,761 for motor-spirit, kerosene, motor-lubricating oils and greases, and £2,632 for twine manufactured in the Dominion. An amount of £748 was spent in the purchase locally of 833 silver-pine poles and 130 stringy-bark poles. Other New-Zealand-grown timber was obtained at a cost of £463. Particulars of purchases arranged by the Post and Telegraph Department on account of other Departments under the Stores Control Board Regulations are set out hereunder, the figures for the previous year being shown also : —

The purchase was arranged during the year of forty-two motor-vehicles for other Departments, and of two motor-vehicles for the Post and Telegraph Department. The figures for the previous year were sixty and fifty-seven respectively. Sale of Obsolete and Unserviceable Material. A number of auction sales of obsolete and unserviceable material, including worn-out motorvehicles from various Departments, was held during the year. The total- value of property disposed of was £2,045. This sum includes the value of scrap lead, copper, and other metals. Marine Insurance Fund. The insurable value of stores from countries within the Empire and from the United States of America covered under the New Zealand Government Marine Insurance Fund was £118,775. Simplification of Stores Stocks. The variety of items which it is necessary to hold in stock to meet the working requirements of such a comparatively, large organization as the Post and Telegraph Department is necessarily very great, but by careful consideration of the practical circumstances in which each article is used, the

2—F. I.

9

1931-32. . 1930-31. ,, . , » T r Stock in hand, „ . , * T * Stock in hand, Receipts.* Issues.* 31fjt March> 1932 . Receipts.* Issues.* j 31st Marchj 1931 . £ £ £ £ £ £ Auckland .. 129,752 134,894 129,633 234,809 202,600 134,775 Christchurch .. 58,263 59,148 83,082 83,816 93,668 83,967 Dunedin .. 40,010 35,528 * 59,374 70,641 62,291 54,892 Wellington .. 240,546 242,760 278,879 368,370 391,485 281,093 Dominion totals .. 468,571 472,330 550,968 757,636 750,044 554,727 * Excluding transfers within storekeeping districts.

Value of Items purchased. Year ended Requisitions. Items. Total. On Indent. Locally. £ £ £ 31st March, 1932 .. 2,825 12,381 21,139 31,743 52,882 31st March, 1931 .. 3,196 13,376 23,560 43,060 66,620