H.—l9

It has been necessary to pass through the Ammunition Repair Depot many thousands of rounds of gun ammunition to ensure that it is fit for immediate use on arrival in any theatre of war. For example, this year 801,096 25-pounder shells and 826,000 25-pounder cartridges have been inspected prior to shipment overseas. Uniforms and Clothing.—The movement of clothing, both receipt and issue, has again been considerable. 1,255,947 garments were received from manufacturers, 1,521,377 were shipped overseas, and 449,567 were dry-cleaned and repaired. Storage.—Additional storage facilities supplied at ordnance sub-depots at Ngaruawahia and Burnham have allowed commercial storage space rented at Auckland, Hamilton, Dunedin, and Christchurch to be vacated. During the year 245,000 square feet of space, involving twenty-seven buildings throughout the country, has been released. The problem of the storage of bulk equipment for which suitable space does not exist remains acute. It is considered that buildings erected for any of the Armed Services or for our Allies should not be disposed of until their storage possibilities have been most fully investigated. Deterioration is inevitable in much of this equipment if suitable covered storage is not available. As an illustration of the values involved, the Army is at present holding stores (on account of the War Office alone) to the value of £2,987,000, and this represents a very small proportion of the total holdings. Ordnance Workshops.—Work has been heavy in all branches. Coastal armaments have been regularly serviced, and periodical inspections of armaments on a care and maintenance basis have been carried out. Static anti-aircraft equipments have been dismantled, mobile anti-aircraft equipments (with their predictors and generators) have been overhauled and repaired for despatch overseas, and radar workshops have serviced the equipments deployed, and maintained those on a care and maintenance basis. The equipment at workshops is in a satisfactory condition and all machinery is in good order. Defence Services Provision Office Although a marked decrease in overseas forecasts and demands has occurred, there has been a very substantial increase in the volume of stores handled and exported from New Zealand production. In addition, quantities of Army and Royal New Zealand Air Force surplus stores have been exported by this branch. During the year 946,159 packages of a total weight of 47,556 tons have been shipped for overseas theatres of war. Army Inspection Department All warlike stores and certain other items manufactured in New Zealand for the use of the British and Allied Forces overseas are, as a necessary condition of acceptance, subject to inspection by the Army Inspection Department. This inspection is continuous throughout the process of manufacture and covers the wide range of ammunition, weapons, instruments, equipment, and tools produced. During the year 9,543 inspection notes have been issued in connection with orders placed with manufacturers. Rations and Supplies The daily rations issued to troops in New Zealand amounted to 4,380,000, the average cost being Is. Bd. per ration. In addition, 292,465 rations were issued to Japanese prisoners of war. The value of supplies shipped overseas amounted to £66,806, and regular shipments of goods valued at £185,282 2s. 7d. for sale in the New Zealand Forces clubs have been made on behalf of the National Patriotic Fund Board. Importations have been restricted to essential items not produced in the country, such as tea, dried fruits, rice, &c., at a cost of £15,523. Movement of Troops : Shipping, Railway, and Air Embarkations and Disembarkations. —Approximately 9,000 Army personnel embarked for overseas during the year and approximately 26,000 men disembarked. Movement within New Zealand. —In addition to the use of normal trains, troop movements on the New Zealand railways involved the use of 680 special trains, including those supplied for United States troops. Approximately 4,047,000 man-moves were made. Inter-Island sea passages numbering over 62,000 were arranged. Air Transport. —The Royal Air Force Transport Command from the United States of America to Australia was inaugurated in November, 1944, Army Headquarters being the co-ordinating authority for the carriage of personnel and freight. There have been forty east-bound flights, carrying 141 passengers and 1,947 lb. of freight, and fifty-seven west-bound flights carrying 137 passengers and 1,333 lb. of freight. Buildings and Works The problem of the maintenance of existing Army establishments is still a matter requiring constant attention. The cost of this work was £325,570, involving 214 establishments. The disposal of surplus camps was accelerated during the year, and of the 284 camps existing, 156, accommodating approximately 56,000 personnel, have been declared surplus and handed over to War Assets Realization Board for disposal, and 15 providing accommodation for approximately 1,514 have been transferred to other services or to Government Departments.

2—H. 19.

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