TT. —37.

It is desired to place on record the part played in the Air Force expansion programme by the staff of the Public Works Department, whose co-operation and attention to the innumerable and urgent demands of the Service, under difficult conditions, has been exemplary. Every officer of the Public Works Department associated with this programme is entitled to a justifiable pride in these stations. Aircraft and Equipment. (a) Equipment. The period under review has been one of continuous expansion, culminating in the establishment of all the units visualized under the Empire Air Training Scheme. In addition, three General Reconnaissance Squadrons have been established. The equipment of twelve new units, including Flying Training Schools and Operational Squadrons, during a period when the supply position has become increasingly difficult, has thrown a heavy, burden on the Equipment Branch of the Air Force. The supply position, however, is reasonably satisfactory. It must be pointed out that, without the direct representation of the Liaison Officers in the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia, it would not have been possible under the existing conditions to have obtained much of the equipment received. There is no doubt that the execution of overseas orders can be satisfactorily effected only through the medium of adequate and efficient staff in these Liaison Offices. During the past year the need for more complete co-ordination of supply throughout the Empire became imperative, with the result that an Eastern Supply Group was set up. Air Force equipment previously obtained from the United Kingdom is now being drawn to an increasing extent from other sources, primarily from Australia and North America. Nevertheless, the bulk of the aircraft and associated equipment used under the Empire Air Training Scheme is of British origin and has been provided largely at the expense of the United Kingdom. (b) Aircraft. During the year a large number of Airspeed Oxford twin-engined advanced trainer aircraft required for the equipment of the Flying Training Schools has been received. These aircraft are supplied at the expense of the United Kingdom Government. Advice has been received that Harvard aircraft on order from. America to replace the Vincents and Hinds now in use at Flying Training Schools will be received during April and May, 1941. In spite of the difficulties with regard to the supply of raw materials and the training of personnel, the de Havilland Aircraft Co. of New Zealand, Ltd., has made satisfactory progress on the contract for 100 elementary training aircraft. Orders have been placed for a large number of Hudson twin-engined bomber reconnaissance aircraft and some flying-boats required for the equipment of General Reconnaissance Squadrons, (c) Local Manufacture. The activities of the Department with regard to the local manufacture of aeronautical equipment are set out in the report of the Controller of Aeronautical Inspection. The importance of this work, combined with increasing difficulties and delays in the supply of technical equipment, make it necessary to utilize the existing engineering resources of the Dominion to the maximum degree, and with this object the establishment of an Aeronautical Production Branch was approved in January. The staffing of this branch has proved very difficult, owing to a lack of personnel in the Dominion with adequate technical qualifications and the impossibility of obtaining such personnel from overseas. The branch will be primarily concerned with the urgent production of aeronautical spares in small quantities to meet temporary shortages. Close touch is being maintained with the Munitions Controller. (d) Machine Accounting. The value of the Powers-Samas machine accounting equipment introduced prior to the war for stock control and provisioning is becoming still more evident. Certain increases in equipment have been made, and the work handled by the Central Accounting Section has been trebled. Over two million Powers cards dealing with stock records are now in circulation. (e) Mechanical Transport. An increase in the number of stations has necessitated a parallel increase in the amount of mechanical transport in use. A total of 248 vehicles is now in constant operation. These include 16 fire or crash tenders, 18 ambulances, 11 floodlights, and 44 tanker trailers. (/) Rations. During the year, classes of instruction for cooks and butchers were held, and a publication for the general guidance of ration staff and cooks was issued, with the result that menus have become more standardized and certain economies effected. Satisfactory contracts have been let for the disposal of by-products, such as swill, fat, and bones.

7