H.—3OA

AUCKLAND BRANCH . The greatly increased volume and improved efficiency of this past full year's work in the Division's new building has demonstrated its great value. The butter-patting plant has worked to capacity to provide the additional amounts required by the Armed Forces in New Zealand and overseas. Lemon curing and packing and lemon by-products have, with the apple assembly, also been greatly assisted by the commodious conditions. Its storage space has been fully used both in the busy and in the off season. The cool-store space not regularly needed for apples and pears has helped handle vegetables for the Armed Forces. The Food Controller has been assisted by the storing of 5,361 packages of dry goods, 18,532 crates and bags of onions and potatoes (equalling 1,459,5481b.), and 169,2751b. of vegetables. In addition, acting since 1942 as agents for the Department of Agriculture, the Division's Auckland office has accepted from their gardens, repacked, graded, crated, wired, branded, and kept in cool store until the arrival of ships 3,769,5001b. of vegetables. Furthermore, it has stored 9,483 of the 14,931 sacks of maize taken over last year by the Government from the growers for storage in Auckland, and has from time to time helped various merchants contractors for the Forces by holding for them a total of 4,972 packages of dry goods and 503,1001b. of vegetables. Zoning of egg and butter deliveries and the rationing of eggs to essential services in the Auckland City has also engaged the Auckland Branch's attention. During the year a total of 25 tons of seaweed has been received, checked, rebaled, and forwarded to Christchureh for the manufacture of agar agar. Close co-operation has been maintained with other Government Departments, particularly the Food Controller, Department of Agriculture, Oil Fuel Controller, and Price Tribunal. The Division has continued to maintain branches at Hastings, Nelson, Christchureh, and Dunedin. The main activities are connected with the assembly, storage, and distribution of local and imported fruits. The local administration of the egg and butter marketing schemes and other departmental activities are handled by these Departments. The cool stores owned and operated by the Division in Hawke's Bay and Nelson have again proved to be essentials in the proper handling of fruit and vegetables. More satisfactory cool-storage and ordinary storage space is still needed in Christchurch and Dunedin. Minister of Marketing.

MARKETING DEPARTMENT INTERNAL MARKETING DIVISION APPLE AND PEAR SECTION Trading Account for the Year ended 31st December, 1942 Dr. £ Cr. £ Stock on hand .. .. •• •• 619 Sales .. .. .. .. .. 699,049 Purchases .. .. •• •• 544,567 Gross loss .. .. .. .. 87,451 Assembly .. .. •• •• 32,297 Freights 131,941 Wharfages .. . • • • • • 6 > 366 Cool storage .. , • • • • • • 69,388 Repacking and sorting .. .. •• 1,322 £786,500 £786,500 Profit and Loss Account for the Year ended 31st December, 1942 Dr. £ Cr. £ Gross loss .. .. •• •• 87,451 Net loss .. .. .. .. .. 120,552 Advertising .. .. • • • • ">557 Alterations and repairs .. .. • • 54 Audit .. ■. • • • • • • -09 Bank interest and exchange .. •• 8,000 Printing and stationery .. .. •• 194 Postages and telegrams .. •. • • ' > 268 Travelling-expenses .. . • • ■ 1, 640 Salaries and wages .. . . •• 12,64] General expenses .. .. • • • • 263 Office rent and hire of equipment .. .. 1,275 £120,552 £120,552 Balance-sheet as at 31st December, 1942 Liabilities £ Assets £ Sundry creditors .. .. • • • • 21,997 Cash in hand .. .. .. .. 20 Reserve Bank .. .. .. •• 578,690 Cash at banks .. .. .. ■■ 770 Sundry debtors .. .. .. •• 10,517 Stock : Paper bags .. .. .. 1, 158 Appropriation, 1941 .. .. 467,670 Add net loss, 1942 .. .. 120,552 588,222 £600,687 £600,687 R. P. Fraser, Acting-Director. W. Lawson, Accountant. I hereby certify that the Balance-sheet and accompanying accounts have been duly examined and compared with the relative books and documents submitted for audit, and correctly state the position as disclosed thereby. —Cyril G. Collins, Controller and Auditor-General.

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