17

f1.—33

Shipments. Fifty-five steamers arrived from New Zealand carrying dairy-produce, and with few exceptions the whole of the shipments arrived at London Docks, the remainder being for Avonmouth and Liverpool. Visits have been paid to the various docks as occasion required for the, purpose of inspecting cargoes at the time of discharge. Particular attention has been paid to the condition of cheese shipments, more particularly in respect to instances where the method of packing the cheese required improvement and where alterations were desirable. Cheese and Condensed Milk for Imperial Government. Since, the outbreak of war the office-work has been increased very considerably owing to the supply of New Zealand cheese and condensed milk to the Imperial Government for the use of troops in the field. These transactions gave rise to a considerable increase in the clerical work, as did also the negotiations relating to the increased rates of freight on butter and cheese from the Dominion, as all correspondence relating thereto was dealt with by this branch. Rennet-supplies for the Dominion. Owing to the disturbed state of Russia and Europe generally, the supply of rennet-extract for the Dominion has become seriously threatened, manufacturers and shippers experiencing such considerable difficulties that it became necessary to move, officially in this matter so that some assistance might be given. With the object of obtaining adequate supplies correspondence passed at various intervals between the Colonial Office, and the High Commissioner—firstly, in the matter of the removal of the embargo placed by the Russian Government upon the export of veils intended for Danish manufacturers ; secondly, obtaining permits to ship from Denmark rennet-extract made partly from veils of enemy origin; and, thirdly, in obtaining permits to ship rennet-extract to the Dominion from Great Britain. Results have been satisfactory, and the requirements, for the coming season at least, seem to be assured. In view of the experiments that are taking place at the, Dairy School, Reading University, a close touch has been maintained between this Office and the principals carrying out the experiments. Pepsin. Owing to the shortage of and the high price asked by the manufacturers for rennet-extract Canadian experiments have been carried out in cheescmaking, pepsin being used as a substitute, for rennet-extract. The results were so satisfactory that a considerable quantity of Canadian export cheese was made by this method, and in the opinion of Mr. J. A. Ruddick and his dairy experts pepsin has proved its value as a substitute. In the interests of the dairy industry of the Dominion communication has been maintained with the Food and Cold Storage, Commissioner of Canada regarding this matter, and the information obtained passed on to the Director of the Dairy Division. Export of Engineering Requisites for Dairy Machinery. In the earlier stages of the war, and owing to the prohibition of the export of all metals from the United Kingdom, New Zealand manufacturers experienced considerable difficulty in obtaining supplies of the necessary material for manufacturing dairy appliances in the-. Dominion, and the services of this Office were utilized in applying for permits to manufacture the necessary material and also to export same to the Dominion. . As time went on and other New Zealand engineering industries became involved these matters were then transferred to another branch to be dealt with. Retailers of New Zealand Butter and Cheese. Another feature of the year's work has been the preparation of a directory containing the names of cities and towns throughout the United Kingdom, and including the names of two or three of the leading grocers in each town who stock New Zealand butter and cheese. The work is nearing completion now, and should prove of practical assistance to this Office when inquiries are made by those desirous of using the butter and cheese of the Dominion. LIBRARY AND INFORMATION BUREAU. It would be, almost impossible to enter into every detail of the multifarious duties devolving upon the Library and Information Bureau. It is here that the, majority of callers are first received, and naturally the number of inquiries to be dealt with is exceedingly large and varied. The book in which visitors from the. Dominion inscribe their names is kept here, and last year's pages contain over two thousand entries, which docs not, of course, by any means represent the number of calls made during that time. A room in which writing-material is provided and newspapers, &c, are filed is attached to the Library, and is very extensively used, providing a convenience greatly appreciated by visitors. Advice and assistance is constantly sought in a variety of matters in which a wide, knowledge of the business and other conditions obtaining in this country is indispensable. Tickets of admission for the House of Commons, Tower of London,, Royal Mews, State apartments of the Mansion House, and other places of interest applied for in 1916 numbered over

3—H. 33.