H.—24

2

to New Zealand, rather than to shut out such cargo as may have been on offer, merely because other more urgently needed cargo erould not be procured. In this connection, however, I desire to state that the Permits Branch of the Department has, in co-operation with the High Commissioner's Office, made every reasonable representation possible to the authorities in the hope of securing the release and shipment of essential goods required in the Dominion, and which have been prohibited from export on account of the war. BUYING OPERATIONS I. The purchases made by tin' Department during the last fifteen months have again demonstrated the advantages to be derived from a centralization of this important work. I have pleasure' in recording the fact that my honorary advisers and expert executives have, during their third year of office', largely contributed to the- successful working erf this branch of the Department. Since my last report the sum of £1,096,338 has been expended as follows :— £ (a.) Stores .. .. .. .. .. 469,348 (h.) Supplies .. .. .. .. .. 615,906 (c.) Drugs .. . . . . .. . . II .081 Total .. .. .. .. £1,090,338 while the business has been spread throughout the Dominion as under:— £ (a.) Auckland .. .. .. .. .. 155,201 (/>.) Wellington .. .. .. ... 578,637 (c.) Canterbury.. .. .. .. .. 169.(i(il (d.) Otago .. .. .. .. .. 192,839 £1,096,338 This expenditure combined with that previously reported brings the total buying conducted since the inception of the Department up lei £4,350,000, representing 89,700,000 articles which have been handed over to my colleague the Hon. Minister of Defence and his officers for military use. Personal Equipment foe Infantry. 2. Tin' position in regard to the' variety and nature of this supply has not altered since' my hisl report. The following table', however, will no doubt be of interest:

Number of Article. Each issued per Man. Cost of Issue per Man. 1915. 101«. 1917. 1918. Personal Equipment. £ s. el. L 18 6 I 3 I 0 4 o 1 10 0 0 0 2 0 4 2 0 3 3 1 4 0 0 1 3 1 10 10 0 8 0 0 12 0 0 8 0 0 0 9 0 8 0 o :; o 0 1 2 o 0 1.1 o ti 4 0 5 0 0 0 10 0 I 0 o o li, o I 6 0 8 9 12 5 7* £ s. el. £ H. el. £ s. el. 2 9 9 2 11 1 3 0 I 1 7 5.1 I 13 0 1 13 7 0 5 li 0 0 5 0 0 0 2 2 5| 2 S 0 2 12 5 0 5 0.', 0 9 K.', 0 9 K.i 0 1 3" .. .0 5 Id" 0 3 3 J 0 1 ()}, 0 4 O.i, 10 0 2 5 0 2 5 0 0 I 0. 1 , 0 I I .I 0 I 3 1 18 ()" I 19 o" 2 2 10 0 10 0 0 12 0 0 12 0 o li o o lo o o in o 0 9 10 0 12 0 0 12 0 0 0 0 0 10 5 0 II I I 0 S 8 0 8 9 0 I I 8" 0 'I Of I 0 4 4.1 0 1 4i 0 2 1 0 2 3" 0 2 3 0 0 5J 0 0 3 0 (I .", o 0 2? o 0 O.i o o i;t 0 5 0 0 7 0 0 7 0 0 0. 0 0 10 0 12 0 10 0 1 0.1 0 I OJ o o 4.1 o o r>i o o r.i 0 I 5" 0 2 2" 0 2 2 0 8 5 0 9 0 0 9 0 13 10 «i* 10 9 li* 17 12 9i* Tunics . . ... . . .. 2 Trousers . . . . . . . . 2 Putties . . . . . . I Greatcoat .. I Hat and pugaree . . .'. .. 1 Cap .. .. .. I Kit-bag .. .. .. .. 1 Blankets Braces . . . . .. .. I Boots .. .. .. .. 2 Drawers . . . . . . . . 2 Shirts, working . . .. . . 2 Shirts, under .. .. .. 2 Shoes . . . . . . . . I Suits, denim .. .. .. I Socks Cholera belts . . . . . . I Holdall .. .. .. .. I Sea-kit . . . . . . . . I Jersey .. . . .. .. I Housewife; . . . . . . 1 Knife, fork, and spoon . . . . I Plate anel mug . . . . . . I Towels .. .. . . .. 2 Sheet, waterproof . . . . . . I * The percentages of increases are—1916, 12-f>7 per oei cent, over 1915; 1918, 7'I per cent, over 1917, 27'5 per een regard to lire general upward tendency of all prioes, improv difficulties met by manufacturers in obtaining ami retainin anel sal.isfni-teiry in view of further advances which have ta be borne in mind that most extensive quantities of e'epii|in for 1917, anil to a certain degree 1918, were corresponding] in 1915 by myself anel advisers to arrange fur extensive economy to the country, rr it v »! a in 5l rnt. river 1915; it, ever 1916, ill veil quality, larj rg suitable assis a ken place since merit were purel >ly reduced; it i deliveries thro 1917, 19 per cent, over 191(1 and 34 per ml 43-6 per cent, ever 1915 prices. Having cger sizes in some artioles, anil the increased istance, I regard the increases as reasonable ■e our eeiirtraets were let. However, it must rhased during 1916, so that the requirements - is therefore dear that tiro decision eome to oughout 1916 has resulted in a substantial