EXPENSIVE WORK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21130, 12 March 1932, Page 8

EXPENSIVE WORK.

AUSTRALIA AND THE WAR.

PUBLICATION OF HISTORY.

OVER £70,000 SPENT TO DATE, j [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] SYDNEY, March 3. Remarkable figures have been published covering the cost to tho Commonwealth of the preparation and printing of the official history of the Great War. In view of the little interest taken in the publication, tho question arises whether further expenditure would be justified. Of course, the returned soldiers maintain that the work should be proceeded with, but it is difficult for them to justify their advocacy in times like these. Either the public cannot afford to buy the history, or it is not interested. Nobody is prepared to deny that the Commonwealth should not possess a complete history of its part of the war, but it does seem that that object could be achieved on lines a little less extravagant than those .which have ruled in the past. When the National War History Trust Fund was established in 1919 it was anticipated that the twelve volumes that Were then planned would be completed in five years, and that the total cost would be recovered from the sale of books. According to the latest estimate it is not likely that the volumes will be finished in 1954. Government "enterprise" has certainly been given a very poor advertisement. The cost of the work has mounted steadily and has exceeded all expectations. Added to this is the fact that the return has not been pearly so great as anticipated. In his annual report the Commonwealth [Auditor-General says that if the present, arrangements are maintained the net cost to the Commonwealth of the war histories will not be less than £IOO,OOO. Is it any wonder, then, that he should make the comment that the cost of production has been unjustifiably costly. The salary of the official historian, Mr. C. E. W. ißean, is set down at £14,313, and £15,766 has been debited to clerical assistance. Other items of expenditure so far are Payment to special writers, £2744; travelling expenses, £1756; rent, maps, photographs, etc., £4310; stationery, postages, £3076; printing, binding and paper £30,397. These above figures do not include the preparation of the medical history. The total cost is well over £70,030 lo date and the return by way of sales and subscriptions is about £21,000.