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Use or Explosives During the year, officers of the Branch have continued to act in an advisory capacity to the Post and Telegraph Department in respect of problems concerning the use of explosives for laying of cables, erection of poles, &c., and have periodically carried out examinations of trainees who have completed the course on explosives conducted at the Post and Telegraph Department's training-school, Trentham. Reports to hand disclose that substantial savings in man-hours have been effected by the use of explosives on various works, and it is pleasing to record that there have been no accidents due to the use of explosives amongst employees of the Post and Telegraph Department. Inspection Work A more complete inspection coverage in the future was forecast in the last annual report. It is satisfactory to be able to report that this forecast has been realized, and although the amount of inspection work has not yet reached pre-war levels for reasons mentioned in earlier reports, the training of additional Inspectors has progressed to the point where an even fuller inspection coverage is anticipated in the forthcoming year. Local-authority Administration The number of local-body licensing authorities under the Explosive and Dangerous Goods Amendment Act, 1920, still stands at 163. In June a conference of departmental officers and inspecting officers of the major local authorities administering the Act was held in Wellington over a period of three days. Suggestions for amendments to the regulations were received and fully discussed, problems encountered by local-authority Inspectors were, exhaustively considered, and substantial progress in the direction of unanimity of application of the regulations was achieved. From the expressions of opinion volunteered by local-authority Inspectors at the conference it is evident that it was an outstanding success and that great benefit from it accrued to all those attending. Amendment op Legislation Following on the conclusion of the conference mentioned above, a start was made on the complete revision of the Dangerous Goods Regulations 1928. The task is one of considerable magnitude and it will probably be some twelve months before the regulations are ready for enactment. However, it is anticipated that the first section of the draft will be ready for circulation shortly, and the remainder will be submitted for comment as early as possible thereafter. Industrial Efpiciency Act The volume of work performed by this office in connection with the Industrial Efficiency Act as it applies to resellers of motor-spirit shows no diminution and tends to hamper the Branch in the performance of its more proper technical functions. Negotiations were recently opened with the Bureau of Industry with a view to simplifying the present procedure in handling and routing applications, annual returns, &c. If satisfactory arrangements can be made in this direction, much of the existing burden will be lightened. Staffing Though the position has improved as against previous years, fluctuations and changes of staff continue to some extent to militate against the most efficient operation, and substantial amounts of overtime have still to be performed. It is realized that difficulties of this nature are not peculiar to this Branch, but until the staff position does become stabilized, efficiency must suffer to a greater or less degree..

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