THE DEFENCE FORCES

Evening Post, Volume XCI, Issue 143, 17 June 1916, Page 9

THE DEFENCE FORCES

A BIG EXPENDITURE.

One of the most interesting references made by Sir Joseph Ward in the Budget was that referring to Defence. "The work of the military authorities and of tha Defence Department has steadily increased," he said. "Additional units have been added to the original Expeditionary Force, and continual and | ample reinforcements have been regularity despatched without a hitch or serious accident. This is the more creditable owing to the fact that the military authorities have, in the absence of a naval administration, assumed the function of fitting, equipping, and niainj taining a regular troop transport system for the conveyance of troops to the seat of war. It is satisfactory to know that the new units and reinforcements have met with general approval by tba Army Council and the Imperial Training Staff at the_ base in Egypt as regards their physique and training. As a natural result of active service abroad, sick and wounded invalided soldiers have been regularly returning to the Dominion. The arrangements for their reception and comfort have been carefully and well carried out by the Defence and Public Health Departments, working in conjunction. Concurrently with the training and forwarding of regular reinforcements, tha Territorial or homedefence training system has been carried out. _ Without this regular system it is certain that the Expeditionary Force despatched to occupy Samoa, and the main force and reinforcements, could not have been so efficiently and expeditiously despatched and maintained. It is to the lasting credit of the employers within the Dominion that, despite* the inconvenience to which they have been put by the enlistment of many of their employees for service abroad, they have continued to support the annual training of the Territorial Forces, and have in this manner contributed to the successful enrolment of the Expeditionary Forces and reinforcements. During jthe past year a Minister of Supplies and Munitions has been appointed, and under his control the co-ordination of manufactures and supplies ..throughout the Dominion has been brought about, thus ensuring improvements and sufficiency of equipment to, meet the military 'demands. The expenditure out of revenue on account of defence amounted to £432.----227, or £60,616 less than the estimated requirements." . ' ■ In reference to '•hs purchase of millI tary fetor" and implies j[ot tbe Esptdi>

tionary Forces, the Statement adds : — "Owing to the fact that the wool sales are held in November-December yearly, it is found convenient to estimate prices and to review expenditure over the period of a calendar year, rather than over the period of a financial year terminating on the 31st March. The expenditure for the calendar year 1915 was as follows :— Q Stores 620,450 Supplies 421,593 Drugs 20,631 Total 1,062,674 "In view of the heavy commitment to tho Army Council in connection with equipping, training, and despatching. say, thirty thousand men during 1916, i it "is estimated that £1,548,000 will be required for the calendar year 1916. This sum is made up as follows :— £ Stores ... -.. 1,100.000 Supplies . . ... 424.500 Drugs , ... 23,500 Total 1,548,000 "It has been found advisable, in order to create reserves in certain lines of equipment, to place orders for heavy deliveries during the first six months of 1916. These goods will be held in store, under proper custody, and as a result the orders for goods will not be so extensive towards the close of the year as for the first six months. As far as can be ascertained, the sum of £248,000 has been paid for 1916 supplies, which I leaves a balance of £1,300,000 to be I provided for the remainder of the calen- ! dar year."