XN000022-1977-06-19 — Page 2

SUNDAY, JUNE 19, 1977

OVER $1 MILLION RECOVERED FROM +RUBBISH+

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OLD SHOES AND BELTS, DERELICT VEHICLES AND MACHINERY FACT ANYTHING THAT IS CONSIDERED +JUNK+ IS VALUABLE AS FAR AS THE GOVERNMENT SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT IS CONCERNED.

IN

TO PROVE THE POINT, THE DEPARTMENT AUCTIONED OFF AN AVERAGE OF 41,000 +USELESS+ ITEMS BRINGING IN ABOUT $1.4 MILLION IN REVENUE FOR THE GOVERNMENT EVERY YEAR OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS.

BASICALLY THERE ARE THREE CATEGORIES OF GOODS DISPOSED

UNSERVICEABLE GOVERNMENT STORES AND EQUIPMENT, UNCLAIMED AND CONFISCATED GOODS.

OF

EVERY FORTNIGHT BUYERS CONVERGE AT A GOVERNMENT CONTRACTED AUCTIONEER'S OFFICE IN HING WAI BUILDING, CENTRAL TO BID FOR THEM. TO THE DEALERS AND THERE IS NOT A LACK OF THEM DISUSED ARTICLES PROVIDE A CHEAP SOURCE OF RAW MATERIAL IN A TERRITORY WHERE NEARLY EVERYTHING IS IMPORTED.

THE GOODS RANGE FROM SMASHED CARS, DECREPIT TYPEWRITERS AND METAL SCRAP TO FOODSTUFF, GOLD ORNAMENTS AND APHRODISIACS.

HOWEVER, NOT ALL OF THEM AUTOMATICALLY FALL UNDER THE AUCTIONEER'S HAMMER. TOYS, NON-PERISHABLE FOODSTUFF, SUCH AS PEANUT OIL, TEXTILE MATERIALS AND NEW CLOTHING ARE DONATED TO CHARITABLE ORGANISATIONS FOR DISTRIBUTION.

WHEN GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS CONSIDER STORES OR MATERIALS ARE NO LONGER SERVICEABLE, THE GOVERNMENT SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT IS ADVISED AND BOARDS OF CONDEMNATION ARE CONVENED TO EXAMINE HOW BEST TO DISPOSE OF THEM.

FOLLOWING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE BOARD, STORES ARE EITHER ACCEPTED BY OTHER DEPARTMENTS FOR FURTHER USE, SOLD ON SITE, SENT TO THE SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT FOR BULK SALE IN SUITABLE LOTS SO AS TO SECURE THE MOST ADVANTAGEOUS PRICES, OR DESTROYED IF NOT CONSIDERED SUITABLE FOR SALE.

MR. R. KILVERT, ACTING DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT SUPPLIES, SAID: +NO MATERIALS ARE WASTED AND EVERY ATTEMPT IS MADE TO RECOVER SOME VALUE FOR GOODS WHICH HAVE BEEN SALVAGED AND THESE INCLUDE SUCH ITEMS AS BOOTS, SHOES, UNIFORMS, UNSERVICEABLE VEHICLES AND MACHINERY, HE SAID.

IN 1973-74, 15,000 SALVAGED ITEMS FETCHED $800,000 AND IN 1975-76 ABOUT THE SAME NUMBER OF SUCH ITEMS REALISED $1.5 MILLION IN PROCEEDS.

THE MAJORITY OF UNCLAIMED GOODS COME FROM UNCLA IMED PARCELS WHICH ARE SENT TO THE SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT BY THE POSTMASTER GENERAL AFTER A SIX-MONTH EFFORT TO LOCATE THE ORIGINAL SENDER HAS PROVED FRUITLESS.

MOST OF THE

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