CUTTING DOWN COSTS.

Northern Advocate, 30 January 1922, Page 5

CUTTING DOWN COSTS.

DEFENCE ECONOMISING

(Received noon)

SYDNEY, This Day.

As part of the Federal Government's scheme of economy no citizen force3* training camps will be held this year.— A. and N.Z.

The following cable message was recently received from Melbourne:—"No official endorsement of the statement that it was proposed to adjourn the present system of administration by divisional .commanders arid return to the ! methods of organisation under State commandants to reduce State expenditure was forthcoming at Victoria Barracks to-day Although it was admitted that the Minister for Defence, Mr Massy Greene, is dealing with a plan which will involve Several drastic alterations, it is unlikely that these wi<ll include a reversion to the old system of State commandants, and it was pointed out by a high (military officer that such a proposal would not be likely to effect a saving in defence administration. State commandants were ' regular' officers receiving high salaries, and their places have been filled by citizen force officers receiving comparatively small salaries. It was also emphasised that the present system was the result of war experience, and that, in the event of an outbreak of hostilities, the military forces of the Commonwealth wero on a footing which would ensure mobilisation with the minimum of delay."