H.—44.

Prescriptions — This questionnaire was mainly concerned with an inquiry into the total prescriptions dispensed, their value in relation to total turnover, a,nd the proportion of business done in other departments. It was also designed to ascertain whether there is a special need to provide expert service and advice in modernizing pharmacies or in the preparation of guidance on simplified recording and accounting methods appropriate to the special needs of a pharmacy business. The extraction and assembly of all the data obtained is being proceeded with, and the essential facts with regard to the extent and nature of the dispensing-work are ready for use when discussions take place on the subject of dispensing under the social-security scheme. Pharmacy Bill. Important features of the plan envisage the passing of legislation widening the scope of the existing Pharmacy Act and having considerable bearing on the possibility of pharmacists being enabled to develop turnover in departments of their business other than dispensing. The Committee has discussed certain desired amendments during the year. Rationalization. During the year some progress has been made in reducing the number of pharmacies in areas which are overshopped. These cases have arisen where there has been the prospect of a pharmacist selling out or where there has been a desire to amalgamate. The Committee has been able to mediate and give assurances of reasonable protection as far as it can in its recommendations to the Bureau of Industry concerning those who are thus making a useful contribution to the principle of rationalization. In no case has any semblance of compulsion been used when arranging amalgamations or the buyingout and closing-down of inefficient pharmacies. In due course, when the facts disclosed by the whole survey and any.other facts that are available point to the desirability of initiating improvements in the economic position in any place, appropriate steps will be taken to explore the possibilities, but always keeping in view the avoidance of coercive measures. It may be stated confidently that the progress which the Pharmacy Plan Industrial Committeehas made during the year has been noteworthy, and already there is evidence of marked improvements in the organization of the industry which presages well for the future operations of the Cflmmitt.ee. Storage Batteries. Last year it was reported that the Hon. the Minister had decided to license the storage-battery industry provisionally, and that the industry was to co-operate in formulating a satisfactory industrial plan as a condition precedent to the retention of licensing permanently. During the year a special committee of the industry was appointed, and after several meetings with officers of the Bureau the general basis of an acceptable plan was formulated. The Bureau later met a large deputation from the industry and discussed the plan with it in detail. The Hon. the Minister agreed to continue the licensing of the industry, and licenses as from Ist April, 1939, were issued to those engaged therein. The draft industrial plan is being put into legal form, and it is hoped to submit it to the industry in the near future for its acceptance or otherwise. If the plan is accepted, an industrial committee for the industry will be appointed and regulations giving effect to the plan published. Already, as a result of licensing, the industry has entered a new phase, and, though there is still a redundancy in some sections of the industry, notable advances have been made. Actually the past year has witnessed the extension of the operations of certain licensees, so that the whole of New Zealand's requirements of storage batteries except a portion of the number of containers required will be manufactured locally. Steps are also being taken for the expansion of the production of containers, so that in the not-distant future it is anticipated that these also will be fully supplied from domestic sources. The advances being made in this industry can be attributed to a substantial degree to the security afforded by licensing, and it is confidently expected that, as a result of the proposals now before the Bureau and about to be issued in the form of a provisional plan, the consumer will be given protection in regard to both quality and price to an extent to which he has not enjoyed in the past. Clay and Concrete Products. Little progress was made with the industrial plans previously reported to have been prepared for certain sections of the clay and concrete products industry. This has been due to widely divergent opinions within the industry as to the best course of action. Recent communications from the "Wellington Manufacturers' Association indicate, however, that the industry still desires to proceed with the matter, and it is hoped that a reconciliation of the conflict of interests within the industry will be effected. Soap. Those engaged in the manufacture of soap and soap-powder have applied for the licensing of their industry, and at the present time discussions are proceeding with the industry through the New Zealand Manufacturers' Federation in relation to a draft provisional plan which is being prepared in support of the application. Nails. A provisional industrial plan submitted by the nail-manufacturing industry is at present under consideration by the Bureau. This industry was declared a licensed one in April last. This is another industry where licensing will probably facilitate the expansion of the industry to the extent of being able to cater for the whole of the domestic market, while at the same time maintaining production upon economic lines,

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