DEFENCE DEPARTMENT

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 10137, 27 November 1918, Page 6

DEFENCE DEPARTMENT

. YEAR’S WAR COST, £18,754,945. The war l expenditure for the year ended March 31st. 1918, amounted to £lB,754,945, including imprest advances outstanding, pay of troops, cost of transports, supplies, equipment, and all maintenance and other charges connected with the war, as well as the administrative expenditure of the National Efficiency Board, Munitions and Supplies Department, Returned Soldiers’ Financial Assistance Board, nud Discharged Soldiers' Information Bureau. I will explain the future financial requirements of this dcpnrtment later on when dealing with the raiding of war loans in the Dominion. My colleague, the Honourable the Minister for Defence, will lay details of the expenditure for the past year before the House in due course. MUNITIONS AND SUPPLIES. During the past year this department has been concerned in activities connected with the purchase of military supplies, the control of coal distribution, and securing priority permits. For the year 1917-18 Cabinet authorised the expenditure of £1,300,000 for goods required for military purposes. To date, orders for goods to the value of £800,700 have been placed, leaving a balance of £409,300 still to be expended if required. Since She inception of the department goods exceeding £4,000,000 have been purchased Extensive contracts for .the supply of high-quality uniform* clothing, woollen goods, and boots were arranged on a satisfactory basis. During the year large quantities of foodstuffs have been purchased for the training camps, and suitable provision has bflen made to meet future requirements. The value of orders placed in this connection was £243,400. The military authorities in October last decided to undertake the management of the ''dry” canteen at Featherston Camp, and the buying operations, covering a

I considerable variety of linos, have since 1 been conducted by tho department. | COAL DISTRIBUTION. As regards coal distribution, the census taken showed a steady depletion of stocks throughout the Dominion. The greatest difficulty was experienced in securing sufficient, tonnage to supplement tho output from our mines and so incot tho requirements of New Zealand coal consumers. Tho shortage was most felt in hard coal supplies, and this was met by encouraging a more extensive use of lignite coals for the less important services. It can be stated with credit to the country that up to date every enterprise concerned has readily lent itself to the directions of 'the and this Attitude has largely contributed to the fact that no activity has. so far, ceased to operate for lack of coal, although in some instances stocks have been nearly depleted. During the course of the year the United States, Canada, Australia, and India refused to permit exports of various commodities without Government sanction. Accordingly the department has made representations in many directions with the object of assisting Now Zealand importers to secure the execution and shipment of orders placed abroad. •• It is to state that the representations made have, in all but exceptional cases, been favourably considered by tho authorities to whom they have been addressed. The total number of applications dealt with was 7500, representing a value of <£3,659,700.