WAR CONTRACTS.

Evening Star, Issue 16198, 21 August 1916, Page 3

WAR CONTRACTS.

STOPPING NEEDLESS WASTE. LONDON, August, 19. The Public Accounts Committee’s report for 1914-15 criticises the extravagant paymonte for billeting, the waste ou rations, and the huge commissions to brokers. The naval deficit is £51,751,0C0 and the army deficit £211.867,000. The Ministry of .Munitions has effected substantial reductions in prices, despite the increased cost of labor and materials, by compelling contractors to supply statements of manufacturing costs and exercising requisitiouary powers. The committee, regret that the Admiralty did- not possess a similar system before trie war, thus breaking contractors’ rings. It is only now slowly introducing tire system. The Government have effected a saving of £5,000,000 annually on sandbags a'tone by taking over the jute trade. £40.000 were lost bv the purchase of unsuitable horses in Ireland, inferior animals being sup tilled in substitution for those bought. Owing to ti'.i' Army Council's refusal to reconsider until the'end of the war the system of paying those on retired and active service, the nay for retired officers ou rejoining the service involved a cost of £■<oo,ooo annually. (evil servants and naval officers do not rnhiv a similar concession. The cost ol huts for troops, hospital patients, and horses in the United Kingdom was £24.300,000.