H. —37.

The cost of rationing compares favourably with the previous year. This is illustrated by the following comparison between the average cost of rations last year and the average cost of rations for the month of March, 1941 :— Average Cost Cost during during 1940. March, 194 J. s. d. s. d. Hobsonville v. ..17-5 15-5 Ohakea .. .. .. .. .. ..18 16 Blenheim .. .. ~ .. .. ..18 17 Wigram. . .. ~ .. .. .. ..16-5 111*5 Taieri ..17 16 New Plymouth .. .. .. .. ..19 18-5 Levin .. .. .. .. .. .. ..18 16 Whenuapai .. .. .. .. .. ..16 17 Rongotai .. .. .. .. ..18 1 7*5 Harewood .. .. .. .. .. ..16*5 18 (g) Fire Services. The efficiency of the fire-fighting organization throughout the Air Force stations has progressively improved as a result of the establishment of a fire-fighting school at Ohakea and technical improvements to equipment. Fire-fighting personnel arc now put through a four weeks' course, which has considerably increased their technical efficiency and has ensured the adoption of standard methods throughout the Service. In addition, an R.N.Z.A.F. Fire Manual, dealing with all phases of fire-fighting and fire precautionary measures, and specially adapted to local conditions and equipment, has been issued. As a result of experience gained both in the Dominion and overseas, the Marmon-Herrington sixwheeled, all-wheel-drive chassis has been imported from Canada and fitted in accordance with the latest practice in crash-tender construction. Certain A.R.P. equipment has been ordered, and instruction in the methods of dealing with incendiary bombs has been undertaken at stations. (h) Clothing. During the year the following main items of clothing have been delivered by Now Zealand manufacturers to the R.N.Z.A.F. Jackets .. .. .. .. 32,000 (approximately). Trousers .. . . .. ■ • .. 32,000 Greatcoats .. .. .. .. 17,000 Caps, F.S .. .. ..33,000 Socks .. .. .. • • .. 48,000 Shirts 21,000 Boots 27,000 Flying-boots .. .. .. ■ • 8,000 Flying-gauntlets .. .. .. ■ • 8,000 Flying-helmets .. .. .. ■. 8,000 As the productive capacity of mills and clothing-manufacturers has been strained under existing conditions, these deliveries have been maintained only by close and continuous liaison with the Factory Controller and the Defence Purchase Division. (i) General. The work of the Equipment Branch has been maintained at high pressure throughout the year, and, having regard to the difficulties experienced under war conditions, the equipment of the new units and the maintenance of the training programme without any serious breakdown reflects most creditably on the organization of the branch. Maintenance. The repair and maintenance organization has kept pace with the accelerated Empire Air Training programme, and by the end of January, 1941, the workshops at the Service Flying Training Schools and the Aircraft Depot had been expanded and equipped to deal with all major overhauls and repairs of airframes, engines, and technical equipment. At these stations more than 10 acres of hangar and workshop space is now devoted to inspections and overhauls of Service equipment. During the past year the Air Force has flown nearly 200,000 hours, or a distance of more than 800 times round the world, and the maintenance of aircraft has involved about a million man-hours in the fitter and rigger trades alone. While the capacity of the existing organization has proved sufficient for the time being, the increased aggregate number of flying hours involved in the Empire Air Training Scheme during the coming year, coupled with the greater number of overhauls arising as the aircraft and engines become older, as well as the expansion of the General Reconnaissance Squadrons, will all throw a heavy strain on this organization, and may necessitate both further expansion in the Service and the delegation of work to civil industry,

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