Since the war a Public Relations Office has been set up. The functions of this office are not to act as merely a govern- ment news agency, for the distribution of official communiqués, but to interpret Government policy to the public where necessary, and to keep Government well informed of public opinion. A public reading room is maintained, and is well patronised. Daily press conferences are held by the Public Relations Officer who also arranges periodical press conferences for Heads of Departments. Another new and senior appoint- ment is that of the Secretary for Development. This officer is responsible for all matters concerning the exploitation of the Colony's natural resources; under his general direction there have been set up four new sub-departments dealing with fisheries, agriculture, forestry, and public gardens respectively. The prewar Botanical and Forestry Department has been abolished and its functions absorbed by these new sub- departments.
A new office, established on 1st January,
on 1st January, 1947, is the Statistical Branch of the Colonial Secretariat. This office, which is equipped with a Hollerith installation for the tabulation of information, is responsible for the production of statistical matter of a specific or general nature required by any depart- ment of Government. During 1947, many analyses and reports were prepared by the Statistical Officer on behalf of various departments apart from the production of information regard- ing the high cost of living required by the Salaries Commission.
Several temporary departments were set up during the Military Administration and continued to function during the year under review. The Department of Supplies, Trade and Industry was established primarily to handle the large volume of supplies imported by Government after the re-occupation; by the end of 1946, normal Government procurement had already been taken over by the Stores Department, but the importation of bulk foodstuffs and controlled commodities on Government account, the administration of an elementary rationing system and the administration of a system of price control remained throughout 1947 in the hands of the Director of Supplies, Trade and Industry.
The Custodian of Property is responsible for the control of both enemy and abandoned property. To a great extent the activities of this department have now run down. During 1947, the disposal of unclaimed abandoned property was almost completed, and the settlement of claims against the department is expected to be finalised early in 1948. The department's responsibility for disposal of enemy property will terminate with the signature of peace treaties. The Quartering Authority is responsible for such improvisation as is possible to meet the serious shortage of European-type accommodation which still exists in the Colony.
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