1949-1950 — Page 20

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83. Contracts. During the year, 19 tenders were gazetted, and 21 contracts were signed.

A total amount of $11,660.00 was levied in fines for delay and non-fulfilment of 5 different contracts.

STORES.

84. Details of stores purchases during the period 1st April, 1949 to 31st March, 1950 and the corresponding period of the previous year are as follows:

1948/49

Coal

$ 533,712.14

1949/50 $ 420,380.00

Oil, petrol, etc.

998,538.03

670,476.96

Local Purchases

364,875.40

365,967.68

Government Stores

117,431.12

1,300,133.40

Crown Agents

89,181.52 2,945,395.57

85. Coal. The cost of Indian coal at the beginning of the year was $95.60 per ton delivered into bunkers. In the follow- ing eight months the price gradually decreased and in December the cost was $89.00 per ton. Advantage was then taken of a shipment of Kailan Mining Administration coal and purchases of two consignments of 50 tons each of Kailan Mining Adminis- tration No. 1 and Kailan Mining Administration loco lump were made at prices of $76.85 and $72.85 per ton respectively. The Kailan Mining Administration No. 1 was found to be more satis- factory than the Indian coal. The purchase of this coal was therefore continued when new shipments arrived, the cost at the close of the year being $79.19 per ton.

86. Fuel Oil. The price of fuel oil at the beginning of the year was $133.90 per ton and before the end of April this had dropped to $119.90. Except for a short period in July when the price was $127.90, the price continued at $119.90 until November, when the price jumped to $140.90 due undoubtedly to the devaluation of the pound. At this time experiments were being carried out with Kailan Mining Administration coal, and after taking everything into consideration, it was found that coal again had become more economical for local usage; consequently it was decided to reduce purchases of fuel oil to a minimum, the total for March being 180 tons as compared with 502 tons pur- chased in the first month of the year.

87. Local purchase. There has been little variation in the price of general stores purchased from local contractors, the only noticeable difference being the increase in the prices of Douglas fir, yacal and teak; these show increases of 10% to 30%.

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