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(d) Foodstuffs With the exception of small quantities of odd lines, all foodstuffs, including large stocks taken over from the United States Forces, have been disposed of, chiefly through the agency of the Food Controller. The revenue under this heading up to 31st March, 1947, was £3,878,690. (e) Textiles and Clothing A complete clearance has been made of all cloth, sheeting, &c, but, although large stocks of used clothing have been disposed of to UNRRA and Netherlands East Indies, there are still substantial stocks of clothing, both new and used. Arrangements are in hand for the sale of these stocks by a series of auction sales to be held throughout the whole of the Dominion. The revenue from the disposal of textiles and clothing up to 31st March, 1947, was £2,328,835. (/) Metals A Metals Advisory Committee has been set up to deal with the disposal of very large stocks of metals, chiefly held by Air Department and the Munitions Controller. The Board's policy is to deal direct with manufacturers and trade groups at prices based on current market rates, allocations being made in consultation with the Department of Industries and Commerce. The revenue from the sale of metals up to 31st March, 1947, was £529,094. (g) Mechanical Plant All mechanical plant and machinery, other than M.T. vehicles, is handled by an Advisory Committee operating under the Board. In the case of tractors and construction plant generally, all applications to purchase are dealt with and allocations made on the basis of essentiality of use. All things being equal, preference is given to ex-servicemen. Except in the case of Government Departments, such sales are negotiated through normal trade channels by using the accredited agents of the respective trade-marks at resale prices fixed by the Board, with a fixed rate of commission to the agent. All other equipment is disposed of by tender or auction after priority applications have been dealt with. The Munitions Controller was the largest holder of machine tools, and in the majority of instances these tools were used by firms engaged on war contracts. The tools had been set up in conjunction with others in the factories and it would not have been in the interests of industry to have them removed. Accordingly they were, in the majority of instances, disposed of to the present users at valuation based on replacement cost. Substantial holdings of machine tools held by Air Department have, in the main, been disposed of to ex-servicemen recommended by the Rehabilitation Department at prices fixed by valuation. Prior to the Rehabilitation Department opening its own tool-store, all surplus garage equipment and tools were disposed of to ex-servicemen at prices based on valuation. Under the new arrangement the Rehabilitation Department purchases in bulk from the Board and deals direct with ex-servicemen. During the year a large volume of construction plant was purchased from United States surpluses in the Pacific. Much of this was taken over by Government Departments, and the balance sold at valuation to the accredited agents for the respective trade-marks in part satisfaction of their approved applications for import licences. The revenue from the sale of mechanical plant and machinery to 31st March, 1947, was £1,158,567.

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