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16. M.T. PARTS AND ACCESSORIES : TIRES M.T. parts are sold to the major distributing organizations at prices based on current landed costs. This system has worked smoothly and well. It has resulted in ..substantial clearances of surplus holdings and has ensured an equitable distribution through the trade as a whole. Used parts as they become available are disposed of by public tender. Sales to the 31st March, 1948, total £338,698. During the year all Chevrolet, G.M.C., Morris, Dodge-Fargo, and Guy Ant parts declared surplus have been disposed of. However, there are still large holdings of Ford parts and quantities for less popular makes, these including many " slow-moving " parts for which there is little or no demand. The disposal of new tires which was until recently the function of the Ministry of Supply is now being undertaken by the Board. The new tires are mostly in sizes which -do not conform to popular demand. Used tires are offered by public tender, and -considerable quantities have been successfully sold. 17. GENERAL STORES SECTION (а) General The General Stores Section has charge of all disposals other than buildings, motor-vehicles, mechanical plant, radio and electrical materials, and aircraft. It therefore embraces a wide variety of commodities. It is assisted in its work by a General Advisory Committee and other Advisory Committees, each dealing with specified groups of commodities. The total revenue from this section up to the 31st March, 1948, approximates £10,000,000. (б) Auctions During the year sales by auction have been carried out to an increasing extent. Sales held to 31st March, 1948, totalled 359, spread over 68 towns, and yielded £519,322. (c) Textiles and Clothing Further substantial progress has been made in the disposal of surplus clothing, the realizations for the twelve months ended 31st March amounting to £562,792. Large clearances have been made to Government Departments, notably the Mental Hospitals Division, which has found a wide use for second-hand garments in good order. A great quantity of used clothing has been disposed of by auction, forty such sales having been held in widely separated areas. The proceeds of these sales have reached the figure of £45,000, and, as the demand for clothing of this nature is still good, the Board proposes to continue this method of sale for a further term. (d) Phormium Rope During the year under review the Board materially assisted the building industry by releasing substantial quantities of phormium rope for use in fibrous-plaster manufacture. (e) Saddlery A large volume of saddlery surplus to the requirements of Army Department has ■been sold during the year, one auction sale alone realizing £27,000.

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