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New Zealand Standards The Department was represented on the Executive Committee of the Standards Council and the Mechanical Engineering Divisional Committee, and meetings were attended throughout the year. A number of specifications and war emergency specifications were examined and written comments furnished. Staff: Inspection of Machinery Branch Mr. W. W. W. .Burgess and Mr. W. T. Warren were appointed to the combined positions of Inspector of Machinery and Engineer-Surveyor of Ships during the year. Both are stationed at Wellington. Mr. 6. S. Mitchell, Inspector of Machinery, Wanganui,. retired for medical reasons at the end of the year. The staff has given considerably more extensive services than are indicated by the number of ship surveys and boiler and machinery inspections. All conversions of ships handed back from war service have been planned and supervised by the Marine Department staff, and reports on tenders for these vessels and valuations for repurchase have been made as required. In addition, the Department's Surveyors have supervised the construction of new vessels building at Auckland and Port Chalmers for the United States authorities and the High Commissioner for the Western Pacific. Examination of Land Engineers, Engine-drivers, and Electric-tram Drivers These examinations were held during the year at the various offices of the Inspectors of Machinery throughout the Dominion at the regular intervals provided for in the regulations. In addition, a few special examinations were granted, but the holding of special examinations is not encouraged, as it is considered that the regular examinations are of sufficient frequency, and, except in very exceptional circumstances, candidates are expected to arrange that they may attend the scheduled examinations. The full list of places where the examinations were held is shown in an appended return, as also is the number of candidates examined at each place. The classes of certificates for which examinations were held were : First-class Engine-driver; Second-class Engine-driver; Steam-winding-engine Driver ; Electric-winding-engine Driver ; Traction-Engine Driver ; Locomotive and Traction Engine Driver ; Electric-tram Driver ; Electric-tram Driver (one-man car). The total number of candidates examined was 429. Of this number, 354 were successful and 75 failed in their examinations. Altogether, 433 certificates were issued, which includes 354 to successful candidates, the remainder being replacements and issues under the provisions of sections 53, 59, and 62 of the Inspection of Machinery Act, 1928. Return of the Number of Certificates issued to Land Engine-drivers and Electric-tram. Drivers during the Year ended 31st March, 1945 Class. No. Service — First-class Engine-driver .. .. .. .. .. 10 CompetencyExtra First-class Stationary Engineer .. .. .. .... First-class Engine-driver .. .. .. .. .. 38 Second-class Engine-driver .. .. .. .. .. 199 Locomotive and Traction . . . . .. . . . . 62 Locomotive-engine Driver .. .. .. .. .. .. 5 Traction-engine Driver . . .. . . .. .. 16 Electric-tram Driver .. .... .. .. .. 93 Electric-tram Driver (one-man car) . . . . .. . . . . 7 Steam-winding-engine Driver . . .. . . . . . . 1 Electric-winding-engine Driver .. .. .. .. .. 2 433 Staff The work of the whole staff during the year has again been excellent, wartime conditions requiring a continuance of the fullest co-operation and effort, which have been readily forthcoming. Particularly pleasing is the effort of some of the wartime appointees who have volunteered or been directed for work in the Department during the war period only. The Marine Department staff have voluntarily contributed approximately £1,000 to the National Patriotic Fund since the commencement of the war by deductions from- salary. Contributions to the war loans are also on a satisfactory scale. Fisheries An abridged report on the working of the Fisheries Branch of the Department follows hereon. I have, &c., W. C. Smith, Secretary.

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