H.—3B

8

documents. For storage of wool beyond twenty-eight days after valuation the Government paid 4d. per bale per week or part of a week while the wool remained in the brokers' possession. The Government paid freight, marine insurance (if required), stamp duty on bills of lading, all wharfage, lighterage, and railway charges from the store to the ship where such were incurred. Valuation. The services of a number of overseas buyers and others as supervising valuers and valuers were utilized, their presence in the Dominion at the time being accounted for by the sales for the season having already begun. The remuneration for their services was fixed at £45,000, plus actual locomotion expenses, clerical assistance, and office accommodation, It is calculated that this remuneration will work out at, roughly, fad. per pound of wool valued. • Wool bought and shipped. Operations for the valuation, purchase, and shipment of the wool requisitioned were begun on the Ist December, 1916, since when, to the 31st March, 1917, the following quantities have been disposed of as under : — Bales. Shipped per " Rotorua " (sunk en route) ... ... ... ... 8,865 Total number of bales valued (as per valuation certificates received)... 421,388 Total number of bales shipped ... ... ... ... ... 219,030 Number of bales available for shipment 1 or scouring ... ... 202,358 Number of bales for which space has been allotted which remain in store 89,780 Number of bales for which no space has been allotted ... ... 112,578 Total number of bales paid for ... ... ... ... ... 399,529 Number of steamers arrived at destination (with 48,737 bales) ... 7 Number of steamers en route to Great Britain (with 147,238 bales) ... 16 Number of steamers on loading-berth at 31st March (with 14,190 bales) 7 The Department has paid out on account of wool to the 31st March, 1917, £9,315,924 for 399,529 bales above referred to. The wool-valuing centres under the scheme were Auckland, Tokomaru Bay, Tolaga Bay, Gisborne, Napier, Waitara, Wanganui, Wellington, Nelson, Blenheim, Christchurch, Timaru, Oamaru, Dunedin, and Invercargill. Wool for France. Acting on instructions from the Imperial Government, arrangements were made to permit the French Government to select in New Zealand a considerable quantity of wool for its requirements. This was done at valuation prices, plus the charge of fd. per pound to cover cost of valuers' and brokers' services, and released on payment of per pound to cover valuation expenses. The selection of the wool was made by the French Government's agents, who took charge of it for transport. The quantity of wool so obtained amounted to 20,000 bales in the first shipments, but this quantity was subsequently increased, the Department of Imperial Government Supplies itself acting for the French Government in making the shipments of wool and arranging for its insurance, &c. Wool for Local Mills. The Department has arranged for a supply of wool to meet the requirements of Dominion manufacturers. This wool was supplied at the Imperial Government schedule rates plus the cost of valuation. The representatives of the New Zealand woollen-mills selected the wool required prior to its valuation