DEFENCE EXPENDITURE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 46, 22 February 1918, Page 6

DEFENCE EXPENDITURE.

THE KOYAI COMMISSION. COST OP CAMPS. (Br Telegraph—Press Association.) PALMERSTON X.. Thursday. A sitting of the Defence Expenditure Commission was commenced this morning before Sir Robert Anderson, chairman, and Messrs. Charles Rhodes and P. liarr. Colonel -T. K. Hume, ofßeer-conimand-ing the Wellington military district, said he did not agree that authority to spend small amounts should be delegated 1 o group commanders. He would prefer I to have the responsibility on his own shoulders. Colonel T. VT. McDonald, staff-officer, - eaid he did not consider Trcntha.ni a suitable place for a camp, and he detailed a svhemc for the reorganisation of the whole camp system. He stated the country would have lost at least •■£loo,ooo through the canteens by letting tliem on contract-, instead of the government running them. We were now saving probably £25.000 annually in Featherston. selling the goods cheaper ■fiiau when under contract, and making as much profit as we got for the contract. Instances were given showing the differences in allowances between officers of equal rank in camp and out of camp. A lieutenant-colonel in camp, who was allowed a free house, received £(300 and allowances amounting to .Clill 12/6. A •man of similar rank on the staff outside a camp received £600. but only £30 10/ in allowances, and had to find his house. Witness said in the Wellington military <listriet there was a shortage of arms amounting to i"5..T57. and equipment amounting to £-2.06!). Taking the other districts into account, there was probably £20.000 worth of these goods ■unaccounted for since l'?T4. Xo doubt much had gone with the men on active - service, but there was no record as to "now much lax supervision and want of ■proper stocktaking would account for - the shortage. An expensive method in telegraphing was used Tty the director of • lecniiting to notify recruits drawn in the ballot. Mcmos. from the group office would answer the purpose. The " <drrector of recruiting in Wellington now l»ad a staff of 102, which witness considered unnecessary. Witness said there was a great deal of waste in connection with medical boards. Each board consisted of two Vtoctors. a military attesting officer, a sergeant-major, and three clerks. They received salaries and travelling expenses, and witness considered the clerical staff could be dispensed with, and clerks from The group staff utilised for the purpose. In the Wellington district one of the three appeal boards conld be dispensed with. The present system of military la-v and discipline was costly ami inc.'iTeetive. When a man became a solilicr - li • had n.-> fewer than 21 commanding Z -officers. The method of bringing deser--1 ters from long distances for investigaZ trou was very expensive. Witness eng- ~ jre=ted that the commission should in- - nuirc into the contracts made with offi- - « - ers imported from England. He questioned if the terms of their contracts - "ivere being carried out. Some who came I out under engagement at a certain salary for a certain position had been . removed to higher positions at higiier salaries, and this was detrimental to i-olonial ofiieers as well as to other imported officers. The witness said there were officers in Xew Zealand who wore quite as capable of tilling these . positions. .Witness considered the period of training of. Jiiea could bo cut •lon-n by a niontli. three months beinjr nmple- time. He ;ilso favoured the establishment of an officers' training school. Tlie Court adjourned to visit Awapuui Camp.