EQUIPPING OUR FORCES.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16405, 27 December 1918, Page 6

EQUIPPING OUR FORCES.

MUNITIONS DEPARTMENT

RETROSPECT,

VALUABLE CIVILIAN WORK

Speaking in the House of Representatives during tho rcoent session, Mr C. Ei Statham, member for Dunedin Central, congratulated the Hon. Arthur Myers (Minister in Charge of Munitions and Supplies) on the fact that NewZealand was the only country in which there was no scandal in connexion with tho purchase of military supplies during the war. Speaking to a representative of the Auckland "Star" on tho subject, Mr Myers stated that naturally it was gratifying to him and his Department that in the expenditure of suoh a large sum of money no case of fraud had taken place, proving that in inflicting substantial penalties at the outset for what might apparently be trivial breaches of specifications of tender, the Department showed to all that, while sound business principles were to be the governing factors in its methods, no laxity by the successful tenderers would be tolerated in carrying out contracts affecting the food or equipment of the New Zealand military forces. The Minister went on to say that a review of the position showed that the New Zealand Government decided in 1915 to train and send 30,000 mem. annually to the front. No stocks of equipment were then held, and, as tho tender system foiled to supply the required clothing and material, it was decided to go direct to the source of supply. The responsibility of providing was therefore vested in the Minister in Charge of Munitions and Supplies in August, 1915, and work immediately put in hand under two headings, i.o. ?• (a) Munitions; and (b) Supplies. After the most exhaustive enquiry, however, in regard to the former, it was found that New Zeal'and had not got the necessary machinery to produce munitions, and at the same time carry on essential industries.

The matter of providing clothing and equipment proved a moro difficult undertaking, as the stocks held throughout the Dominion were low, and prices were rising before the Department commenced to operate, whi6h • resulted in large quantities having to be purchased at somewhat unfavourable market conditions. The results were entirely satisfactory, the troops leaving the Dominion being equipned practically with New Zealand-made articles, which proved to be second to none in quality and reasonable in cost. The methods pursued by tho Department resulted in ample stores being accumulated to allow of freedom of action, but during the last twelve months caution had been exercised in placing contracts, and consequently stocks now held are lota. and any not required by the military authorities could be readily disposed nf. "The Department," continued Mr Myers, "has also controlled all military expenditure on food, forage, drugs, and miscellaneous requirements, which has enabled the Defence Department to release experienced officers for activo service nt tho front. The total cxnrnditurc by the Department since its inception exceeds four and a half millions, and represents over 90 million articles. NON-MILITARY MATTERS. "The Department has also controlled the distribution of coal, the total amount dealt with being over .five million .tons. ■ In tho mattfir of priority permits, the business dealt with eixceeds £4,iX)0,000, and represents orders supported by the Department placed by New Zealand merchants in the United Kingdom, Canada, United States of America, India, and Australia." In this connexion the Minister stated that cables had been received conveving the cordial thanks of the Hon. Winston Churchill (Minister of Munitions in the United Kingdom) for the valuable assistance rendered by the Department and local Priority Committee. "For the last four months," added the Ministor, "the Department has exercised, in conjunction with the Board of Trade, control over the distribution of petrol, with the result that no complaint has been 1 received for tho last quarter, whilst on the other hand everything possible has been done to assist importers to procure space and supplies. Owing to the extreme shortage of tonnage, particularly between Australia and New Zealand, arrangements have been made whereby shipping companies are able to consult tho New Zealand Government agent in eases of difficulty. In dealing with the variety of business- coming within its scope, the Department has had the benefit of being associated with a Board of Advice, consisting of experienced mercantile men, who have gratuitously placed their services at my disposal since the inception of the Department."