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Tinning Plant The tinning plant at Auckland has been running at full capacity with a considerable amount of overtime, and, by drawing supplies from other canning plants, has been able fully to supply the Armed Forces. This plant, which is patterned on a principle previously used in Australia, has, though limited by cramped space and by having only one sealingmachine, enabled a large output to be maintained. Since these difficulties cannot be overcome without greater expense than a temporary installation warrants, double shifts will have to be worked during the coming year if the Pacific position remains as at present. Dairy Butter Though farm butter does not come under the Butter Marketing Regulations 1937, which control the distribution only of factory-made butters, the Division, when rationing was introduced, was asked to help in disposing of it. Former purchasers of farm butter, both consumers and manufacturers, seemed to decide that if they were restricted to a small quantity of butter it would be almost entirely factory production. The people producing farm butters thus found their market very much restricted and there was some complaint that this butter would be entirely wasted. The Division therefore, working with the Food Controller, arranged for agencies to handle dairy butter in each area of production. It also encouraged dairy factories to accept cream even in very small quantities in order to cut down the quantity of farm butter coming on to the market. Some butter did, however, accumulate, particularly in the Nelson area. The Division lifted and disposed of it, without waste, in replacement of factory butter. Later the Division was able to take for dry-fatting all quantities of dairy butter, at prices commensurate with quality, which could be brought to central points. At the same time the Rationing Controller allowed manufacturers who continued using farm butter a tolerance of 20 per cent., enabling the Division to place quantities with pastrycooks and manufacturers. The Division wishes to acknowledge considerable help from the dairy industry in the difficulties caused by rationing and military requirements. Manufacturers also have gone out of their way to assist the Division in supplying to military camps and making available on short notice butter transferred from their normal export procedure to the requirements of the local market or to military supplies. All factory executives have co-operated and given the fullest assistance and information, and, generally speaking, the returns necessary to the Division have been attended to, notwithstanding their staff shortages. The Division very much appreciates this assistance, which has enabled its officers to carry out their part in difficult conditions. EGGS With egg prices stabilized according to season and with labour and feed in short supply, egg-production during this year has not greatly increased. In spite of the subsidy introduced in June, 1944, of 3d. per dozen on all eggs" passing through approved marketing channels, there are still not sufficient eggs available to provide a continuous ration for civilians in centres of population during the autumn and winter months. Owing, however, to the system of central floors and the zoning of retail deliveries, all civilian, war, and shipping priorities have been met in full. Civilian priorities comprise children under five years of age, invalids, hospitals, and expectant and nursing mothers. Altogether, these priorities made available through the authorized marketing channels during the year ended 31st March, 1945, totalled 2,028,300 dozen. Subsidy and Effects The subsidy and its corresponding Emergency Regulations certainly have, apart from any increase in production, attracted a large quantity of eggs to marketing areas, and, from this viewpoint alone, have been justified as a benefit to the consuming public. There is, of course, still a big lag between supply and demand. But it is very difficult

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