PUBLIC ACCOUNTS.

Grey River Argus, 21 August 1916, Page 3

PUBLIC ACCOUNTS.

BRITISH COMMITTEE'S REPORT SHOCKING WASTE DISCLOSED TOO MUCH. RED TAPE. (Australian -and N.Z. Cable Assn) - (Reed. August 20, at 5.5 p.ni.) LONDON, August 19. The Public Accounts Committee report for 1914 and 1915 criticises the extravagant payents for billeting and the waste of rations and large commissions to brokers. The naval deficit is £51,751,000 and the army deficit £211,867,000. The Ministry of Munitions has effected a substantial reduction in prices despite the increased cost of labour and materials by compelling the contractors to supply statements as to manufacturing costs and by exercising requisitionary powers. The committe regrets that the Admiralty did not possess a similar system before tha war for breaking con. tractors' rings. They arc only now slowly introducing the system. The Government effected a saving of £3,000,000 annually on sand-bags alone by taking over the jute trade. Portj thousand pounds was lost by the purchase of unsuitable horses in Ireland. Inferior animals were supplied in substitution for those bought. The Army Council's refusal to reconsider until the end of the war the system of paying retired and actite services pay to "retired officers rejoining the service involved a cost of £700,000 annually. Civil servants and naval officers do not enjoy a . similar concession ; ' , . . The cost of hutting troops ; ; hospital patients and horses in the United King dom was £24,500,000.