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Disembarked in New Zealand for the year have been 533 wives, 38 fiancees, and 84 children of New Zealand servicemen. Complete arrangements were made to bring husbands, fiances, and/or next-of-kin to the port of arrival to meet their. dependants, accommodation being provided where necessary and transport arranged to home destination. In addition, Army arranged transportation for Navy, Air Force, and Merchant Navy dependants. Buildings and Works With the reduction in large construction works, the Works Branch has been engaged mainly in the disposal and salvage of surplus camps and assets, the completion of heavy coast defence installations, the adjustment of financial authorities for works previously carried out, and the major task of the detailed planning and organization involved in the proposed evacuation of Trentham Camp. In addition, normal maintenance of existing establishments was a large commitment involving the sum of £298,516, the restoration of old Territorial Force camps cost £11,717, works authorized and proceeded with, £6,606, and moving further warehouses and installing a fire-alarm sprinkler system for the Main Ordnance Depot, £13,590. Three Army Troops Salvage Companies have been employed in New Zealand cooperating with War Assets Realization Board in stripping camps, removal of buildings, and preparing for the sale and disposal of equipment, but with heavy reductions in their strength the amount of this work performed by the Army will be considerably reduced. An Army Works Company has been employed in New Caledonia dismantling warehouses, barrack-rooms, and a general hospital, totalling some 14,000 ship-tons. This is now under guard awaiting a decision regarding disposal. Army Inspection Department The inspection of outstanding orders has been taken over by the Munition and Factory Controllers, and the Army Inspection Department ceased to be a separate organization and Unit from May, 1946. Ammunition has been cleared from field to magazine storage, unserviceable ammunition and explosive being held for repair or destruction. Canteen Fund Board I During the year profits totalling £13,437 received from the Canteen Board in respect of the canteens operated by the Board in New Zealand were distributed to units or placed on board troopships for expenditure for the benefit of troops. Accounts War Service Gratuities. —Up to 31st March, 1946, 169,549 applications had been received for war gratuities, including 10,477 on account of deceased personnel. Fiftythree thousand nine hundred and twenty-two assessments have been completed and accounts opened. Owing to the large number of personnel returned from overseas between December, 1945, and March, 1946, it was not possible to finalize the majority of gratuity applications by the date of entitlement —viz., 31st March, 1946. It is estimated that upwards of 220,000 applications will ultimately be received for action. Final Pay.—The number of soldiers' accounts finalized during the year, including those of deceased soldiers, totalled 37,398. « Records Towards the end of 1945 Base Records moved from Kaiapoi Woollen Mills Building, Jervois Quay, and Hyam's Building, Wakefield Street, to McPhee's Building, Wakefield Street, where both Base Records and the War Service Gratuities Section are now

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