HOW THE MONEY WENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12070, 13 September 1902, Page 2 (Supplement)

HOW THE MONEY WENT.

£730,000 FOR OXEN CAPTURED OR LOST IN ONE YEAR. Sojir: further light on the financial side of the Boer war is afforded by the fourth re-

port of the Committee on Public Accounts recently issued. The committee find that the system of taking vouchers for supplies purchased by officers in the field was very imperfect. Owing to the delay in unloading ships at Capetown and Port Elizabeth 'the heavy sum of £27,600 was charged against the War Office for demurrage. Hiring and buying oxen and waggons tor transport purposes was also a costly business. No less than £730,000 had to be paid in a single year for the loss or capture of trek oxen and the damage or capture of waggons.

Cerium officers were sent to Spain to buy I nudes, all details being left entirely to their j own discretion. One purchasing officer discovered that a mule agent engaged by him was receiving a commission both from the British Government and the dealers who were sidling mules. This agent, was dismissed, and the price 01 mules went down ; but his brother, employed by another British officer, was retained, and the price of mules in the latter case exceeded that in the former." With regard to the celebrated meat contracts, it appears that the tenders in the first three cases were limited to South African firms, and in the last, although the competition was open to outside linns, only three competitors would undertake the business of distribution as well as supply. The committee, in conclusion, urge the appointment in any future war of a body of trained officials who understand the business of taking supplies in store and keeping military accounts.