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as being surplus to their requirements, and on instructions from the Board they will effect delivery to the purchasers, receive the proceeds of sales, and account for them in accordance with instructions which have been issued. Under certain circumstances, however, it may be necessary for the Board to arrange for purchasers to make payment direct to the Board and not to the Departments who. actually supply the stores. 49. Disposals.-—ln effecting disposals the following order of priority is being carried out (a) Requirements of Government Departments : (b) Requirements of essential industries, &c. : (c) Eastern Group Supply Council, UNRRA, Netherlands East Indies Government, British Pacific Fleet, and similar organizations : (d) Allocations against import licenses : (e) Sales by tender, offer, and auctions. Except in the case of a certain number of special items, neither the Board nor Government Departments are in a position to make retail sales of common user items direct to the public. In the meantime, until the position is clarified and an orderly method of disposal of such items is defined, the Board is endeavouring to meet the urgent demands of returned ex-servicemen for tools of trade, &c., and of Hospital Boards, Education Boards, and welfare organizations for other essential requirements. The revenue from the sale of general stores up to 31st March, 1945, was £282,591. 50. Mechanical Plant.—A Mechanical Plant Advisory Committee has been set up to advise the Board re the disposal of tractors and allied equipment, construction plant generally, and-major items of machinery. This Committee is also an advisory body to the Comptroller of Customs, through the Ministry of Supply, on matters pertaining to the importation of construction plant, allied equipment, and spares coming within its scope, and by arrangement with the Industries Committee and the Comptroller of Customs all applications for import licenses for construction plant, &c., are examined by the Committee. Except in the case of Government Departments, sales are negotiated through normal trade channels, by using the accredited agents, at resale prices fixed by the Board, with a fixed rate of discount to the agent. All applications for the purchase of plant and equipment are dealt with by the Committee and allocations made on the basis of essentiality of use. 51. Radio Equipment and Materials.—.A Radio Equipment and Materials Advisory Committee has been set up to advise the Board re the disposal of all radio equipment and material. This Committee is an advisory body to the Comptroller of Customs, through the Ministry of Supply, on matters pertaining to the importation of radio equipment and materials coming within its scope, and by arrangement with the Industries Committee and the Comptroller of Customs all applications for import licenses for radio equipment and materials are examined by the Committee. The Committee is at present engaged in the work of scheduling and classifying the stocks of radio component parts which have already been declared surplus by various holding Departments. The intention is that, except in the case of Government Departments, sales will be negotiated through normal trade channels—radio traders and manufacturers approved by the Board—at prices fixed by the Board on the basis of replacement costs of similar commodities. CONCLUSION 52. The Board has been faced with many difficulties in setting up an organization to efficiently handle a task of considerable magnitude. It feels, however, that a good foundation has been laid and that the results to date have been quite satisfactory. To ensure, however, that the work will be carried on and expanded efficiently necessitates the early provision of further trained and experienced staff. 53. The Board wishes to express its thanks to all Government Departments for their co-operation,, and particularly to the Public Works Department, which has played a large part in connection with the disposal of camps ; to all those gentlemen who have given their time and services as members of the Board and the various Advisory Committees ; and finally to the staff for their loyalty and efficient work. H. E. Avery, General Manager.

Approximate Coat of Paper.—Preparation, not given ; printing (540 copies), £18.

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