H—44

Of these, 341 have been allocated to Government Departments and the balance allocated to private industry. Of the 121 items of miscellaneous equipment comprising electric motors, centrifugal pumps, air-compressors, testing-apparatus, &c, 47 items were allocated to Government Departments and the balance—74—to private industry. There is a sustained demand for such machine tools from both Government Departments and private industry, and those already disposed of to them are being put to good use and are of considerable value to both maintenance and production. (b) Japan There have been no developments of importance to New Zealand in connection with Japanese reparations. The advance transfer programme, under which some countries whose property was devastated by the Japanese received allocations, is now almost completed, but no action on the final programme has been taken. Until the policy on the question of removal of Japanese industrial facilities is determined, no reparations apart from those allocated under the advance transfer programme will be made. The New Zealand Government Trade Representative in Japan has continued to act on the Reparations Technical Advisory Committee. SECTION 7—MISCELLANEOUS (a) Control op Exports It is the Government's policy that exports of manufactured goods should be encouraged, except in cases where such exports would have a prejudicial effect on New Zealand's economy. In making recommendations to the Customs Department on applications under the Export Prohibition Emergency Regulations for permits to export goods, this Department is guided mainly by the effect there would be on the local supply position if the export were made. This Department co-operates with the Customs Department in reducing the necessary controls to a minimum and in simplifying procedures. (b) International Emergency Food Committee Increased production of foodstuffs throughout the world and improvements in their distribution have made it possible to cease to hold coarse cereals, animal foodstuffs, fats, and oils as being subject to allocation by the International Emergency Food Committee. At 31st March, 1949, the only commodities remaining under .the control of that Committee were wheat arid wheat flour, rice and rice products, cocoa-beans, and nitrogenous fertilizers, but early release from allocation by the Committee was planned for wheat and wheat flour and for nitrogenous fertilizers. Such information as is required by the Committee about this country's production of and external trade in the commodities concerned is prepared by this Department for supply to the New Zealand member of the Committee in Washington, D.C. (c) International Wheat Agreement The Department was the co-ordinating centre for the work done locally in connection with New Zealand's participation in the International Wheat Conference held in Washington from 26th January to 23rd March, 1949, to negotiate an agreement designed to stabilize wheat prices in international trade. New Zealand's delegate at the Conference was Mr. R. W. Marshall, New Zealand Government Trade Commissioner

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