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DEPARTMENTAL MOTOR-VEHICLES. Owing to the greater suitability for departmental purposes of the closed type of car, it is now the practice when purchasing new cars to obtain closed cars instead of cars of the touring type. The provision of a new garage at Dunedin has enabled the postal and engineering vehicles in that city to be accommodated in one building under the control of the Chief Postmaster. In Dunedin, as in the other main centres, the Post and Telegraph Department supplies vehicles for the use of all Government Departments, and the new system, providing as it does for single control instead of the previous dual control, is expected to result in more economical and efficient handling of the fleet as a whole. Some two years ago an arrangement was made by which a qualified officer was specially detailed for the work of travelling the Dominion at suitable intervals to inspect departmental motor-vehicles. Many of the Department's vehicles engaged on line construction and maintenance work are far removed from a departmental workshops centre, and the system of inspection was introduced particularly to meet such cases. The results obtained have been quite satisfactory, and the arrangement has now been made a permanent one. The scheme provides for vehicles to be inspected twice yearly by the travelling officer. In addition to examining the vehicles, the Inspector instructs drivers, where necessary, in the matter of the care of the vehicles. During the year 110 new vehicles were purchased, while 79 which had outlived their period of economic life were withdrawn from service. These vehicles, in accordance with the usual practice, were disposed of by auction. As at the 31st March, 1930, the departmental motor-vehicle fleet comprised 123 cars ; 471 lorries, trucks, and vans ; and 22 cycles —a total of 616 vehicles. The mileage performed by, and the cost of repairs and replacements to, the entire fleet of departmental vehicles for the years 1926, 1927, 1928, and 1929 are shown in the following statement: —

Mileage shows an average annual increase of 387,061. STORES BRANCH. The following statement indicates the value of stores received and issued in the Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, and Wellington Storekeeping Districts during the year ended the 31st March, 1930, and the value of stocks held at that date. For the purpose of comparison the particulars for the previous year are shown also

Purchases. The total value of stores purchased during the year was £533,967. Of this amount, £150,544 represented the cost of stores for supply from within the Dominion, while £383,423 represented the cost of stores for supply from overseas. The total value of stores purchased during the previous year was £484,218.

Ypar Number of Cost of Repair, &c„ Average Average Cost of Year " vehicles. Mllea S e - Repairs, &e. Cost per Mile. Tehifle" *** £ d. £ d. d. 1926 530 3,295,560 19,810 1-442 6,218 37 7 6 1927 550 3,756,447 22,578 1-442 6,830 41 1 0 1928 580 4,138,275 24,251 1-406 7,135 41 16 2 1929 616 4,456,743 24,436 1-3159* ! 7,246 39 14 8 * A saving of 009d per mile, which represents a total saving over 1928 of £1,681.

1929-30. 1928-29. Receipts * Issues * Stook in hand ' Reccirrts * Issues* Stock in hand ' Receipts. issues. 3j st March, 1930. ■ Ke001 P ts - Lssues 31st March, 1929. £ £ £ £ £ £ Auckland .. 234,302 232,618 102,565 229,089 254,924 100,882 Christchurch .. 164,972 154,976 93,820 151,933 143,869 83,824 Dunedin .. 93,209 87,718 46,542 82,805 101,751 41,051 Wellington .. 388,217 360,417 304,208 376,324 436,499 276,407 Dominion totals 880,700 835,729 547,135 840,151 937,043 j 502,164 * Excluding transfers within storekeeping districts.