DEFENCE PROPERTY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22329, 1 August 1934, Page 9

DEFENCE PROPERTY

MAINTENANCE OF BUILDINGS EFFECT OF ECONOMY POLICY (From Ocb Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, July 31. Because of the Government's decision to strengthen tile defences of the Dominion it has become necessary to make provision for the purchase of additional land and for the erection of more buildings to house the equipment and staff, stated the annual report of the New Zealand Defence Forces which was tabled in the House of Representatives to-day. The expenditure thus involved, together with the delayed payment made to the Colonial Ammunition Company for small arms ammunition, had resulted in the vote for the year being fixed at £283,703, an increase of £53,393 on the sum voted for the previous year. Owing to the continuation of a policy of strict economy and to progress with the building programme falling short of what it was expected to be by the end of the financial year, the expenditure of the department was confined to the sum of £264,723, being £18,980 less than the amount appropriated. For nearly four years now a policy of the strictest economy had been pursued in the administration of the department, and the maintenance and' upkeep of the depot buildings and valuable military material in the country had to be reduced to a minimum.

Some increase in the normal annual expenditure of the department to enable a commencement to be made with essential work must be faced shortly if a comparatively heavier cost of rebuilding and replacing in many instances is to be avoided in the near future.