H.—44

In clothing our troops hundreds of thousands of battledress have been manufactured. Woollen-mill production has been such that millions of yards of the necessary material have been produced, as also have hundreds of thousands of pairs of blankets, while the number of pairs of sox manufactured also runs into millions. In footwear the quantities produced in the year under review reach well over seven figures of all types; these have been made available to New Zealand forces both in New Zealand and overseas; American forces; and for military commands east of Suez. Regarding the production of food, New Zealand has been called on to supply everincreasing quantities for the armed forces based in New Zealand, while exports of butter, cheese, canned meats, &c., have been continued to the United Kingdom. The supplies made available to the American troops based in New Zealand have been in the nature of reciprocal lend-lease aid in conformity with the agreement reached with the United States. . Huge quantities of meats, butter, vegetables, bread, biscuits, &c., have been supplied. Eastern Group Supply Council.—During the year considerable orders calling for warlike and common user stores were allocated by the Eastern Group Supply Council and accepted by New Zealand. These orders were placed on behalf of Central Provision Office, India, this organization being the military counterpart of the Eastern Group Supply Council and responsible for bringing before the Council the requirements of the various commands within the Eastern Group Area. The extension of the war into the Pacific at the time of Japan's entry into the conflict, together with the immediate threat of the invasion of New Zealand, made it most difficult for New Zealand to accept Eastern Group orders. However, every endeavour was made to assist wherever possible, and it is most gratifying to be able to report that the Council has expressed great satisfaction in the manner in which New Zealand responded during those difficult days. Items already referred to under the general heading of production include considerable quantities of stores produced for the Eastern Group Supply Council. The major items were clinometers and instrument stands and components, small-arms ammunition, mortars and components, mortar bombs, hand grenades and components, bren-gun carriers, fuses of various types, insulators, hydraulic jacks, concrete-mixers, centrifugal pumps, winches, wallboard, radio transceivers, boots, a wide range of military clothing, and thousands of field telegraph and multi-airline ladders, nails and barbed wire. RECLAMATION OF WASTE MATERIAL The Department records with deep regret the death during the year of Mr. Charles Todd, who, as the first Chairman of the National Council for Reclamation of Waste Material, was largely responsible for organizing the activities of the Council. The new Chairman is Mr. J. W. Collins, formerly Deputy Chairman. As a result of the activities of the Natioiial Council and its affiliated Boards and Committees during the twelve months to the 31st March, 1943, the sum of approximately £10,000 was paid into the National Patriotic Fund, making the total contribution since the Council's appointment in July, 1940, £24,482. In order to supply the needs of essential industries, especially those industries working on war production, the Council has followed strictly the policy of securing wanted waste materials, and has regarded as a secondary consideration the matter of securing funds. To co-ordinate the work of the Ministry of Supply and that of the Council and to cope with increased activities, Mr. J. B. Lymburn was appointed Controller of Salvage under the Director of Production. During the year the collection of waste paper has been extended to include all parts of the Dominion, and to meet the greatly increased tonnage quotas required by the two New Zealand paper-mills situated at Whakatane and Mataura. In view of these increased national activities many centres which previously, due to their geographical location and on economic grounds, had not been active have now been embraced, new committees and depots having been established. This expansion brings the organization to large dimensions, comprising upwards of eighty-six committees and/or depots. To get the best results from these, official assistance and guidance have been necessary, and in this regard the services of the Controller of Salvage have been made available to the Council and have proved of very material help. The Controller has made a complete tour of the whole of New Zealand, meeting committees, assisting in obtaining depots and arranging co-operation of various bodies who are in a position to help the effort, particularly in regard to transport. He has also subsequently visited many depots in company with Mr. J. W. Collins, of the National Council. The Council continues to direct drives made for the planned collection of now precious metals, cleaning rags for the military forces, and has collected, in conjunction with the New Zealand Retail Motor Trade Association and all dairy companies, hundreds of tons of waste rubber to be processed eventually to meet military and essential civilian needs. INDUSTRIES COMMITTEE (IMPORT CONTROL) During the past year the Industries Committee, which assists in the administration of the Import Control Regulations, has pursued the usual policy of ensuring that adequate provision is made for raw materials essential for- our wartime needs and the maintenance of a reasonable standard for our civilian requirements. The Committee has maintained the usual close co-operation between the Customs Department, the various Controllers, and manufacturers and importers generally.

7