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it has been essential to organize extensive body rebuilding, and complete engine and transmission overhaul programmes. During the year 57 vehicles were disposed of as they were beyond economical repair.
138. When new vehicles are sanctioned, particular attention is being paid to the fitting of special bodies to suit the job for which they are intended and, except for ordinary passenger cars, only the chassis and power unit are now obtained from the manufacturer, the bodies being built on them locally. In this respect two totally enclosed all-metal Night-soil Bucket Carriers were designed for the Urban Council and constructed in the workshops mounted on Karrier CK3 chassis. In addition, Insulated Meat Delivery Vans for the Urban Council, a Delivery and Sorting Van for the Secretariat Despatch Service, and a standard type of 6 seater Utility van for general Government service were designed by this office and constructed by a local contractor. Owing to the unsuitability of locally available timber, and in conformity with the modern trend in vehicle body building, all bodies are designed for all metal construction.
139. The pool of vehicles and drivers maintained by this office for the use of all Government Departments was well used, and a sub-pool was inaugurated during the year, operating from the Colonial Secretariat Building. This has proved very satisfactory and it is proposed to extend the activities of the pool further during the coming year.
140. During the year under review a total of 348 applicants were tested for appointment with Government as car and lorry drivers, and 235 passed and were engaged. A shortage of lorry drivers manifested itself during the year, and it was not found possible to keep up with the number of drivers resigning. The position remains acute, particularly with respect to the Sanitary Department who operate a large proportion of specialized vehicles.
141. The re-organization of the stores section has proceeded smoothly and is now considered to be as compact as the physical separation of the workshops will allow. A suspense account to which the cost of labour and materials are charged in the first instance, and later recovered by transfer from an appropriate vote, has been instituted. This has enabled the stores to maintain at the workshops a stock of raw materials and spare parts which considerably facilitates the prompt execution of jobs.