WAR ASSETS

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 102, 27 October 1945, Page 9

WAR ASSETS

RESULTS OF SALES

RECEIPTS OVER £3,000,000

The operations of the War, Assets Realisation Board have resulted in total cash receipts amounting to £3,478,643 for the disposal of surplus assets to March. 31 last. , This is shown in the annual report of the board presented to Parliament yesterday. . Of this total motor transport vehicles and parts realised £2,882,621, buildings £206,932, foodstuffs £144,162 ammunition £59,468,. and building material £48,312. Outstanding debtors in respect to sales are chiefly other Government departments, and their liability amounts to £237,562. "There will be many items of stores, and in considerable quantities," states the report, "for which in their existing form there is no market, or at the best only a limited market. It is proposed to set up a-committee of specially qualified men to investigate and recommend to the board as to the best means of the disposal of such stores. It must be,, recognised too that there will be certain items "which have no commercial value whatever and for which there is no demand. These may eventually have to be destroyed, but authority to do so will be given only after thorough investigation." Referring to salvaged equipment, fittings, and .materials, the report states that Government departments in'exercise of their right of priority have purchased considerable quantities and substantial sales have also been made to the general public. The board had made a substantial contribution to the relief of the building situation in Wei-, lington by demolishing tent decks and buildings at several surplus American camps and had supplied to the building, industry for housing construction approximately two million. super feet of timber. . ■ .

The report mentions that arrangements were entered into with the United States forces to dismantle a convalescent hospital in the Pacific and ship it to New Zealand. The materials had - since arrived in New Zealand and had been sold to the Netherlands East Indies Government on satisfactory terms- Arrangements were now well in hand for the transfer to New Zealand of buildings surplus to the United States, forces- for use' for wool, storage and other purposes, and negotiations had. been entered into with representatives of the Admiralty for the, sale to them of huts for the'use of the Pacific Fleet.