WAR EXPENSES

Evening Post, Volume XCIV, Issue 51, 29 August 1917, Page 8

WAR EXPENSES

SOME BIG FIGURES

COST OF TROOPS & TRANSPORT

The Minister of Defence (Hon. Sir James Allen) presented to the House of Representatives this afternoon the following statement of net expenditure from the beginning of the war up till 31st March last.

Pay and allowances, £8,458,769.

Transport of troops, including charter of steamers, meals, and of meti travelling to join, freight, cartage, etc., £3,535,721.

Payment to War Office for maintenance'of troops in field, munitions, and transport, £4,500.000. Equipment, £1^913,934. Rations, £92,142. Expenses of camps, including concentniting, £488,580. Home defence, £260,552.

Hospital-ship Maheno, £200,652. ■ .. Hospital ship Marama, £167,478. Medical expenses (including equipment for hospitals and investments), £338,198. . ■ Clerical assistance, £106,344. Prisoner of war, £52,441. ' Purchase of homes, £209,468. Forage, £249,396. v Advertising, printing, and office equipment, £68,644. Canteens on transports, £12,662. Mechanical transport, £20,255. Postage and telegrams, £61,676.. Superannuation to Public Servants on service, £35,345. Travelling expenses and allowances, £9200. Commission of enquiry, £1067. Allowances to wives of Imperial reservists residing in New Zealand, £5099. - Deposits for allotments through Post Offices in United Kingdom, £79,650. j Discharged ' Soldiers' Department, | £342-4. Distribution •of war news and casualties for New Zealand, £260,000. Freight on British and Belgian relief produce, £656. Grants to regimental funds, £1699. Grants to soldiers' hostels, £5500. H,i!f-cost reinsurance, death benefits friendly society members with forces, £7422. Munitions and Supplies Department expenses, £4033. Expenses of administration Military Service Act, £16,671. . War bonus military staff, £6494. National Efficiency Board administrative expenses, £491.

The list included other minor items. The total net expenditure for war purposes was as follows : — ■ . ■ ■ To 31st December, 1916, £14,557,177. From 31st. /December, 1916, to 31st March, 1917, £7,447,506. ■ ■ '..

Grand total to 31st March, 1917, £22.004,683. There is expended under section 6 of tlie Public Revenues Amendment Act, 1915, the sum of £201,584 for relief purposes' in Belgium and £160 for similar purposes in New 'Zealand.