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The formation of No. 3 Movements Section, Christchurch, lias provided improved facilities for the movement of personnel and freight. A summary showing traffic for the year is as under : Passengers. Freight. (a) Air Traffic — lb. Internal .. .. .. 2,704 644,542 Overseas .. .. .. 341 77,670 (b) Sea — Coastal — (i) Disembarked .. .. 2,055 (ii) Embarked .. .. 2,538 Overseas—(i) Disembarked .. .. 138 787 (ii) Embarked .. .. 90 2,586 (c) Rail .. .. .. .. 10,352 1,068 11. TECHNICAL SERVICES During the year 1949-50, technical activities generally have been of a higher order than those of the previous year, while the pattern of the organization has shown better definition. Technical statistics and centralized control of technical wing functions on stations have been placed on a sounder basis by the formation of technical control-rooms. The engine-repair section of No. 1 Repair Depot, which has been transferred to Woodbourne, is ready to operate, but without the remaining complementary sections of the depot yet to be shifted, the repair work is limited. The increasing demand for flying has placed a heavy burden on the technical support, As the staffing position has failed to keep pace with technical commitments, an out-of-balance condition has arisen as a result of which major servicing has fallen badly into arrears. This has been accentuated by the added commitments of major servicing for Dakota aircraft from the Singapore detachment, and the servicing of aircraft for the Territorial Air Force squadrons. It was again necessary to place contracts for servicing with Civil contractors. The storage of reserve aircraft, which total some two hundred and forty, constitutes a heavy drain on resources. The increasing age of this equipment brings problems of servicing and replacement of parts. Armaments No major changes in armament practices in the R.N.Z.A.F. have been made, but all equipment required for the use of forward firing rockets by Mosquito aircraft has been received and installed preparatory to use. The Armament Repair Depot has not yet been transferred to Woodbourne, and major repairs continue to be undertaken by Ohakea. Two armament officers are attending courses in the United Kingdom and 1 senior N.C.O. completed a Senior Instructor's course with the Royal Australian Air Force. The present air firing and bombing ranges at Ohakea and Seagrove are inconveniently situated in respect to Civil aviation radio ranges. Signals The activities of the R.N.Z.A.F. signals organization during the year under reviewhave been confined almost wholly to the maintenance of the R.N.Z.A.F. communications system and to the airborne equipment associated therewith. A close study of radio aids to air navigation for modern high-speed aircraft has been made. The provision of

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