H.—44

This shows a very substantial increase, particularly when viewed in relation to the labour difficulties, The whole of this production of fibre and tow is at present being used in the manufacture of ropes for the Armed Forces and woolpacks. The State mill at Westport has been in full operation for the year, and both the quantity and quality of fibre have been very satisfactory. A further State mill at Kerepehi has now been completed, and a satisfactory quantity of fibre is now coming forward from this source. Considerable difficulty has been met in obtaining sufficient experienced labour to maintain output, and this difficulty is still present. The Moutoa Estate, which comprises the largest single area of green leaf in the Dominion, and which was purchased by the Government, has not only been the main source of supply of green leaf for the stripping-mill at Foxton, but has provided a nursery area and experimental farm. The latter activity is under the direction of the Plant Research Bureau of the Scientific and Industrial Research Department and has already made valuable contributions to the existing knowledge of planting procedure and plant strains. Pharmacy.—The main work of the Pharmacy Plan Industrial Committee in the past year, apart from its reports and recommendations to the Bureau on the issue and transfer of licenses, has been in the direction of smoothing out difficulties arising out of the social security pharmaceutical benefits. A close liaison has been maintained with the Department of Health in this matter, with good result. During the year a further goodwill advertising campaign was undertaken. As the Pharmacy Plan has now been in operation for six years, it will be of interest to review briefly the effects on the issue and transfer of licenses over the period. There have been seventy-eight applications for transfer of licenses. One was refused, others were abandoned, and altogether sixty-eight were approved. Of these forty-seven were transfers to new owners —that is, persons who had not previously held a license, but had been working as managers or assistants. There were twenty-three applications for new licenses —eight declined. Of the fifteen granted, ten went to new owners who were not at the time holding any license. Taking transfers and new licenses together, two-thirds of the transactions concern new owners, which is a satisfactory indication that the industry is keeping open to the younger men graduating from the ranks of the employees. RECLAMATION OF WASTE MATERIAL During the past year the work of salvaging materials has been well sustained and extended, the number of affiliated Boards and Committees now operating under the jurisdiction of the National Council for Reclamation of Waste Material being 135. Publicity campaigns have been conducted during the year employing newspapers, radio, and theatre screen in addition to suitable posters covering the commodity concerned, and comprehensive plans for the continued success of the work have been framed and put into operation. The following figures up to 29th February, 1944, give a clear indication of the scope of the work done: — Paper to mills : 17,347 tons (including some 3,500 tons from private sources and Government offices) : Rubber to mills : 1,820 tons (tire retreaders and processors have also shared in this distribution). Large quantities of tin tubes (toothpaste, &c.) have been and are being recovered—details of quantities are not available as they are, in the main, disposed of locally, together with other non-ferrous and ferrous metals—but such activities are reflected in the very satisfactory total sum contributed annually to the National Patriotic Fund. Another activity which helps materially towards this end is the collection of cleaning-rags for Armed Forces and Services—a job very ably carried out with the assistance of Girl Guides. Other bodies who have done much towards the success of these efforts are Boy Scouts, school-children, New Zealand Retail Motor Trade Association, New Zealand Dairy Board, and public and transport bodies, to whom thanks are due. The splendid voluntary work of the National Council is deserving of the highest commendation. It is anticipated that a sum of approximately £8,000 will be handed over to the National Patriotic Fund at the end of period under review, bringing the total to date to £32,482. The Controller of Salvage has maintained close contact with all those actively engaged in the work outlined above, visiting depots and meeting Committees—the majority of visits being made in company with Mr. J. W. Collins, Chairman, National Council for Reclamation of Waste Material— smoothing out difficulties and ensuring a continuation of co-operation of various bodies who are in a position to help the effort. Other activities of the Controller of Salvage comprise periodic visits to all military areas —camps, Air Force stations, &c. —for the purpose of ensuring that internal salvage organizations are maintained in respect to elimination and disposal of waste to the nearest depot. Thanks are due to the Services for their assistance with transport in this regard. In addition, close contact is being maintained with Stores Control Board, manufacturers' associations, and industrial users with a view to locating a market and uses for discarded Service materials, obsolete plant, and/or equipment. Regular returns of scrap and unwanted material are obtained from Government Departments and other sources, these being collected, and interested Departments or other users being advised of quantities and potential uses. Opportunity has been taken to collaborate with manufacturers to prevent waste in the first place and to salvage unavoidable waste in the second, and ensure that this is used to the best advantage. The salvage of material has proved a valuable contribution which has materially assisted industry and given a lead to the Dominion that may well be carried over into the days of peace.

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