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and Australia. The Price Tribunal, the Wheat Committee, the Tobacco Board, the Standards Institute, Food Controller, and Munitions Controller function as separate units from the two main Divisions because they are constituted as semi-autonomous bodies. BUREAU OF INDUSTRY The following paragraphs have been selected as the main points of a report for the year ended 31st March, 1946, circulated to members of the Bureau. The Bureau of Industry, which was established under the Industrial Efficiency Act, 1936, has shown increased activity over the past year, as, with the termination of hostilities, attention has been given to the reorganizing of industry to take its place in post-war economy. In the transitionary period the rehabilitation of returning service personnel has been a major consideration, as also the projected expansion of industry to ensure maximum utilization of both available raw materials and man-power, and so provide for the implementing of the Government's announced policy of full employment. Industries which during the last six years were diverted from civilian to war production are now resuming their former activities, in many cases on a larger scale and covering a wider range of commodities. As a result, the Bureau has had a greater number of applications in both manufacturing and distributive industries for new licenses and for extensions of licenses. The manufacture of rubber tires and tubes for motor-vehicles is an example of a new industry, establishment of which had to be deferred during the war, but which is now being proceeded with. In this case the Bureau, at a special three-day hearing, decided to grant three licenses for factories to be established in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch respectively. Appeals a-gainst the Bureau's decisions were heard by the Hon. Sir Francis Frazer, who decided that they be disallowed and the decisions of the Bureau confirmed. The petrol-reselling industry, with the gradual lifting of petrol restrictions, is steadily returning to normal trading conditions. Of the eighty-three applications made for new licenses, fifty-nine were granted to ex-servicemen, these including seven service stations and forty repair garages. Reference was made in last year's report to the desire of the Bureau to assist, as far as possible, in the successful rehabilitation of discharged servicemen into licensed industries. Many servicemen whose licenses had been held in trust for them during their period of service have now resumed their former businesses, while a number of others have sought to enter into the different licensed industries, particularly footwear, radio, and petrol reselling. The introduction in June, 1945, of the Industrial Efficiency Emergency Regulations 1943, Amendment No. 1, has given the Bureau greater powers of extending preference to returned servicemen, both in regard to new licenses and transfers of licenses. Personnel Several changes have taken place in the personnel of the Bureau during the year under review. Mr. W. Bromley, a foundation member of the Bureau, resigned on his retirement from the Public Service. Mr. J: G. Pound was appointed in place of Mr. D. W. A. Barker as representative of the Treasury and Mr. H. Morrison, one of the farmers' representatives, resigned. Financial Assistance The Bureau has continued to act as recommending authority to the Government on applications for financial assistance under section 29 of the State Advances Corporation Act, 1936, and has made certain representations to the Government suggesting an alternative method of dealing with requests for financial assistance to industry.

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