MUNITIONS AND SUPPLIES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LIII, Issue 81, 5 April 1919, Page 2

MUNITIONS AND SUPPLIES

(United Press Association)

WELLINGTON, April 4. The Munitions and ' Supplies Department, whose work terminated 'on March 31st, expended, according ’to a statement by the A- M. Myera, a sum lof £4,600,000 in procuring atbres for military purposes, ‘JThe whole of this ■ sum, representing ask turnover of £1,300,000, has been handled with- • | out a case Of frariid, although at the ini .coptioii of . otwratioiui; the; ..Miniww? had S in a lew inatincea w whoi% ; ; specifications not faithfully executed, amounting jn one case to £2OOO. Towards the end of 1918, when the position of military gtock^Myas fully, reviewed; it" %as found -that the ‘Defence Department had no surplus .cloth- ■ ing or stores to dispose of. How* ever; consumable commodities to an aproximatd valiie of E2fc,ooo were not j needed. When the armisticp was sign- ! ed the; Department waa committed to ; ■ contracts ’of a -value of These commitments were/, at a' total cost by way of j compensation amounting to , £ll2, and the taking over from • contractors of = goods useful to the military authorities to a value of £32;(X|O. A surplus; stock of consumable goods of a value of '£9588 was disposed of at a net loss-on coat bf £2772. Goods of a value of £7864 weredisposed Oi by the department to buyers, and a net ) ldsh : ori cost of £2012 incurred. Respecting 1 goods of a value of. £3766 which were put tj, auction in response ttb - Humerdus ’ ' taq\i3sto\ -\pniy £1724 worth was sold, realising a loss .on cost oT £760. In round figures the and. Supplies _ Department • has cost about £lß,wO, being an aver- j age annual cost bf £fXX&, Which is a 1 very .'economical expenditure for the. services-received