WASTE AND EXTRAVAGANCE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XL, Issue 9897, 30 August 1919, Page 5

WASTE AND EXTRAVAGANCE.

LONDON, August 28

Immediate retrenchment measures in Britain include accelerated demobilisation of the Army, Navy and Air Force. The navy's demobilisation will be completed before October. The Air Force will be reduced to 50.000 belore November. The War Office staff will be reduced by '40 per cent before November.

LONDON, August 29

Public anger at the Government's extravagance is growing. The -tress campaign continues unabated, disclosing fresh examples of waste, i'he daily newspapers give lengthy descriptions of the wilderness of waggons ana gun c iages, peacefully rotting, winch the military is carefully guarding. The "Alorning Post" details a Lox scandal, and points out that although our soldiers in France were strictly oidered to preserve and return ammunition boxes, the Aiiuistry of Alunitions has no adequate system of checking, consequently tweive - million sterling worth of boxes have gone adrift. Many were stolen and others destroyed. Alany were sold at ridiculous prices. In some cases the contractors nad, a free issue, of the boxes, for which they later received payment. The Ministry did not attempt to collect the boxes from the contractors' dumps wiien the armistice was signed, and continued to manufacture boxes alter the signing. The newspaper quotes instances of expensive muddles in selling boxes without calling for tenders.

Air Clyne pooh-poohs Air . Lloyd George's alarmist letter .which he says will possibly result in a few thousand dismissals.

Great decisions are needed, and the Government must try to save hundreds of millions. It requires a daily "shock to keep the Commons awake. The Navy, Army, auci Air Force estimates are approaching six hundred millions, aud tlie^e must be tackled, and the expensive policy in Ireland and Russia must be changed. • Air Clyne urges that Parliament be summoned in the beginning distend of tiic end of October.

Air Alalone ,a Coalition AI.P., demands that the Liberals leave the Coalition unless a drastic policy of retrenchment is adopted.

It is significant that Lord Rothermere now blames Air Bonar Law, who has been practically Premier since January, and declares that he is responsible for allowing the country to drift into difficulties.

Newspapers point out that the Admiralty. War Umce and Air Force are in an awkward predicament, owing to the Cabinet's tailure to decide the strength of the standing army, .and other peace establishments, in the absence of which, they are unable to prepare final returns, or economise. The newspapers also call attention to the national shipbuilding yards at Chepstow, Beachiey and Cortbury, where Sir J'.nc Geddes stated, in 1917, that thirty-eight slipways would be constructed, costing £3887,000. The

scheme proved a dismal failure. It is estimated that lour to five millions have already been expended, and only two vessels launched, one" of which almost completed before the private yard was commandeered. -