H.—3B

1918. NEW ZEALAND.

DEPARTMENT OF IMPERIAL GOVERNMENT SUPPLIES. REVIEW OF OPERATIONS COVERING THE PERIOD FROM THE 1st APRIL, 1917, TO THE 31st MARCH, 1918, INCLUDING AN APPENDIX SHOWING RESULTS TO 30th SEPTEMBER, 1918.

Laid on the Table of the House of Representatives by Leave.

SIR,— Wellington, 24th April, 1918. In continuation of my last annual report, dated 30th June, 1917, I have the honour to submit a review of the operations of the Department of Imperial Government Supplies, covering the period from the Ist April, 1917, to the 31st March, 1918. As intimated in my previous report, the Department commenced operations on the 3rd March, 1915, and was constituted for the purpose of controlling the arrangements necessary in connection with the purchase of the entire output of frozen beef, mutton, and lamb available for export from New Zealand for such purpose as the Imperial Government might determine. The requisition of other commodities has since extended the duties and activities of the Department, and, in addition to frozen meat, it is now attending to the business arising out of the purchase and export of butter, cheese, " Glaxo," frozen and canned rabbits, condensed milk, scheelite, wool (greasy, slipe, and scoured), hides, and sheep-skins. In addition, the Department has administered the provisions of the Order in Council dated the 13th October, 1916, regulating the price of butter for local consumption during the 1916-17 season, has purchased butter and cheese for the Dominion Government for the use of camps and transports, undertaken all the internal arrangements in connection with the shipment of kauri-gum, kept the accounts in connection with the purchase of wheat by the Board of Trade on behalf of the New Zealand Government from the Commonwealth of Australia, and undertaken the arrangements in connection with the supply of butter for local consumption necessary through the withdrawal of factories supplying the Wellington markets during the present year. FROZEN MEAT. The requisition of frozen meat on behalf of the Imperial Government commenced on the 3rd March, 1915, and has since that date comprised all frozen beef, mutton, and lamb in store or produced at freezing-works available for export. The arrangements under which the requisition was introduced were the result of conferences convened by the Prime Minister and attended by representatives of the freezing companies, shipping companies, Board of Agriculture, and others interested in the industry. The schedule of prices and the general arrangements necessary in connection with the scheme were agreed upon and subscribed to by all parties interested, and the schedule of prices referred to was adhered to until the 20th

I—H. 38.