42. Inventories of furniture in Government buildings, offices and quarters were checked at intervals throughout the year.
43. The workshop plant and equipment was checked with the inventories at the end of the year and found correct and in good order.
44. The total value of the furniture work executed by the Department during the year was $148,519.34, detailed as follows:-
(i) Recurrent Expenditure.
Maintenance and supply of furniture to all Departments and Government Quarters, etc., $47,683.64 (Charged to Head 29, Stores Department, sub-head 17, Furniture).
(ii) Furniture and Equipment for new services $90,654.75 (Charged to separate Heads in the Estimates).
Hospitals$11,449.08 Police Stations$11,333.80 Schools15,829.71 Refugee Camps$11,441.36 Central Store$9,859.96 Internment Camp$17,571.87 Central Market$2,894.23 New Offices, P.W.D.$2,541.20 A.R.P. Services$1,048.89 Fire Stations$988.24 Prison Services$1,331.01 K.C. Railway$286.37 Government House$1,220.88 Urban Council$595.99 Treasury Dept.$363.12 Harbour Dept.$239.39 Postal Services$221.52 Miscellaneous Services$1,438.13(iii) Extraordinary Expenditure.
Furniture for the Government of Fiji $10,180.95
This furniture was made at the request of the Government of Fiji for shipment by the M/V "Viti" now being built in Hong Kong. The cost of the furniture will be recovered from the Government of Fiji through the Crown Agents for the Colonies.
VI. SAND MONOPOLY.
45. The Sand Monopoly operates under the Sand Ordinance, No. 50 of 1935, and the Sand Amendment Ordinance, No. 12 of 1938, which are designed to prevent the theft of sand from land, foreshore or sea bed not under lease from the Crown and to control the importation and the removal of sand by junk, lighter, truck or lorry.
46. The price of all sand purchased under permit from 1st January, 1939, to 30th June, 1939, was at the rate of $1.50 per cubic yard. As from 1st July, 1939, the price of sand purchased from Government Sand Depôts was fixed at the rate of $1.50 per cubic yard, and from places other than the Depôts at the rate of $2.00 per cubic yard. The increase in the price for sand delivered direct to consumers was necessary owing to the prevailing local conditions.