Report of the Department of Lands and Forests for fiscal year ending March 31, 1950 Page 102 



OFFICE MANAGEMENT 



General 



Owing to the scheduled retirement of a senior member of this Division at the 

 end of the year, a considerable proportion of the work previously handled by him 

 devolved upon this section and was progressively turned over, so that there would be 

 no break in the service when the retirement took effect. Some of the duties so trans- 

 ferred consisted of Preparation of Leases and Leasing of Properties, Arranging Con- 

 ferences, Supervision of Permanent Records Sub-section, Space Adjustments, etc. 



By means of a re-arrangement of staff, the additional duties were assumed, one 

 extra clerk typist being employed. 



Locating. Purchasing and Expediting of Equipment and Supplies 



The conditions of scarcity of equipment and supplies which were so noticeable 

 during the immediate post-war period were alleviated considerably. In most lines, 

 delivery could be obtained immediately, or within a reasonable time, and through a 

 greater competition in the supply field, a slight easing of prices was experienced in 

 some cases. This tendency was most noticeable in office furniture and equipment, 

 although a general increase in prices took place in certain instances. The importation 

 of high quality equipment and steel furniture from Britain was of marked assistance 

 in obtaining favourable prices and good delivery. Thus the majority of service 

 requirements were filled satisfactorily and without undue delay. 



Inventory Control 



The modified equipment accounting procedure, by which each administrative 

 District maintains its own perpetual inventory, was put into effect in all field offices. 

 Equipment records are maintained on a card system, which gives an accurate picture 

 of total physical stocks and valuation at any time, as well as the distribution of the 

 equipment within the District. Inventory Record Cards, in two colours, are used, 

 one to record all inventory items, and the other to include minor items which are of 

 too small a cost to include in the inventory, but of which a record must be main- 

 tained. Work was commenced on a complete vocabulary of equipment, with standard 

 nomenclature, as a guide to all concerned as to the items to be shown on inventory 

 and those which are classified as maintenance supplies, owing to their low value 

 and/or short service life. This work will take some time to complete, in view of the 

 very wide range of equipment in use by various activities of the Department, but 

 when completed, it will be a much better method of determining correct classifications 

 than by the price factor alone, as the latter is difficult to follow because of the 

 continual price changes. 



Distribution of Equipment and Supplies 



The work of the stockroom staff is seriously hampered by lack of adequate 

 storage space. This condition is particularly noticeable in the case of articles of 

 uniform which must be carefully stored to prevent deterioration and damage by moths, 

 etc. However, by utilizing every available square foot of space, it has been possible 

 to carry on and give efficient and prompt service to all branches. 



