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Produce Sacks.- —The Standard Specification for Produce Sacks, referred to in the last report, has been completed and issued, and is now in use. This Specification establishes minimum requirements for sacks for the packing of grain or other heavy produce, but does not relate to sacks used for packing fertilizer, lime, cement, or grain weighing less than 45 lb. to the bushel. It will shortly be reviewed with the object of making provision for a larger sack for the packing of light produce. DOMESTIC COMMODITY STANDARDIZATION Footwear Sectional Committee. —The sixteen Emergency Standard Specifications for footwear referred to in the last report have been revised and extended so as to cover the greater part of the footwear being manufactured in New Zealand. In the course of the revision the opportunity has been taken to amend one or two minor provisions which, while not affecting materially the quality of the footwear, prevented some manufacturers from conforming strictly to the provisions of the Standard Specifications, with the result that they were unable to use the Standard Mark as a reliable certification of quality. The revision has been carried out in full collaboration with the interested parties, including manufacturers and consumers, and according to reliable information on the part of manufacturers the revised specifications will now bring within their scope approximately 90 per cent, of the footwear normally produced. It is anticipated that the issue of the revised specifications will lead to the use of the Standard Mark by a correspondingly greater number of manufacturers. Infants' Footwear. —Further progress has been made with the drafting of a separate Standard Specification for Infants' Footwear below size 7, and a draft Specification has now been prepared. With the completion of the revision of the general-footwear Specifications referred to above, it will be possible to concentrate attention upon special types of footwear such as infants' footwear and nurses' footwear, referred to in the following paragraph. Nurses' Footwear. —The need to complete the revision of the general-footwear Specifications at an early date has limited the attention which it has been possible to give to the formulation of a Standard Specification for Nurses' Footwear: Progress has, however, been made with this project, and shoes manufactured in accordance with the provisions of a draft Specification are being tested in the main nurses' training centres in order to test their suitability before the Standard Specification is issued. Footwear Lasts. —Continued attention has been given to the formulation of uniform basic measurements for footwear lasts with the object of ensuring that an adequate range of properly graded sizes will be available as the basis for the manufacture of correctly fitting footwear. As a corollary to the preparation of this Standard Specification, arrangements have been made for a survey to be conducted of the feet of five thousand children representing an adequate cross-section of the community. The data obtained from this survey will indicate the basic measurements and the range and gradation of sizes which are necessary to meet all requirements. Gum Boots. —Preliminary proposals for a Standard Specification for Gum Boots have been prepared and submitted to the manufacturing interests for initial review. Textiles. —Garment Sizes: A Standard Specification for sizes for Men's and Boys' Shirts and Pyjamas has been completed. In addition, much preliminary work has been carried out in connection with garment sizes generally, as a result of which it is hoped that the formulation of suitable Standard Specifications will shortly be proceeded with. Oiled Canvas Clothing.—As a result of representations received from a branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union, a committee has been set up to prepare Standard Specifications for oilskins, leggings, sou'-westers, and other oiled canvas clothing. A draft Specification has been completed and circulated for comment. Vegetable Grades. —During the year the seven Standard Specifications for swedes, carrots, parsnips, kurnaras, pumpkins, cabbages, and silver beet, referred to in the last report, were revised in the light of the experience gained during their initial use. In addition, similar Specifications were prepared and issued for a further seven vegetables (cauliflowers, celery, peas, beans, leeks, rhubarb, and beetroot), so that Standard grades are now available for almost all vegetables. The Government Departments concerned have continued to use these Standard Specifications in connection with contract purchasing, while the Specifications are, of course, available for use by other institutions and purchasers generally, and in the course of time will doubtless come into general use. Meat Grades. —After a period of initial application in the Wellington District, the grading of meat for the retail market in accordance with the Standard meat grades has been extended to all abattoir districts in the Dominion, so that consumers generally are now in a position to purchase meat according to grade, with a 20-per-cent. and 40-per-cent. discount for second and third grades respectively. Bread. —Throughout the year all bread baked in New Zealand has been required to conform to the Standard Specification in terms of the Breadmaking Industry Control Order 1943. The Bread Approvals Committee has held regular meetings to consider applications from bakers for the approval of special breads which they consider to be sufficiently different from ordinary breads to warrant their being baked and sold under different names at different prices. As a result of the work of this committee, consumers are no longer confused by a multiplicity of so-called special breads, many of which could not readily be distinguished, and are now afforded a reliable basis for the exercise of their discrimination in the purchase of these breads,