MEN AND MATERIAL

Otago Witness, Issue 3250, 28 June 1916, Page 25

MEN AND MATERIAL

SUPPLY AND EQUIPMENT

AN INTERESTING REPORT. (Feom Oun Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, June 23

The first report of the recently-formed Munitions Department, controlled by the Hon. Mr Myers, is a very interesting document, replete with information bearing on the equipment of our soldiers and the furnishing of them with full supplies. Two facts of interest are that the clothing issued to a mounted man costs £l4 2s 9d, and that to an infantryman £l3 ;6s od. while their accoutrements respectively total £3 5a and £3 9d lid, thus making the total cost of a mounted man Is 2d more than that of an infantryman. Difficulty in securing supplies was chiefly experienced by the Defence Department in regard to boots, uniform, clothing, and woollen articles, which wore short tendered for in August last year, the shortages being 5000 cholera belts, '2040 jerseys, 5500 underpants, 5130 undershirts, 4415 working shirts, 8200 pairs socks. 3500 pairs canvas shoes, and 600 denim suits. Statistics as to the combined factory power of New Zealand showed that the combined capacity of tho woollen mills, was quite inadequate to meet tho existing demands of ordinary customers and at tho same, timo execute orders for tho full amount of military equipment required. It was therefore decided to obtain the views of the New Zealand woollen millers in the matter, and a conference was accordingly convened at Wellington, as a result of which orders for goods to the value of £554,295 for delivery throughout 1915 were placed. Tho millers thus demonstrated the .ability of the factories to supply tho wholo of New Zealand's military requirements in goods of tho kind which can be produced in the dominion, provided attention was concentrated on tho work. It is estimated that £1,543,000 will be expended to secure military supplies for tho calendar year. This sum is made up as follows: Uniform, clothing, and woollen goods, £554 295; other stores, such as boo.s, hardware, leather goods; furniture, etc., £545.705; supplies, such as food and forage £424,500; drugs for medical, dental, and veterinary services, £23,500. To givo an idea of the enormous quantity of khaki required for 1916 for uniforms, overcoats, working shirts, and pantaloons the report states that the total length of cloth abrogates about 530 miles. It is estimatedM&t g between 80 and 90 per cent. of the combined output of the New Zealand woollen mills will be absorbed by the production of goods for military looses from January till August this year. Iron September till tho end of this year the reduction in tho output of goods tor mihtary purposes will enable the woollen mils to devote their attention to **«*««*"« ° their ordinary trade orders Hie qua y of tho uniform materials and of ttieunderclothing now being supplied is of a very superb? kind, several of the articles being two-ply yarn instead of single- ply. prevTouslv supplied. If tho blankets required fb? 1916 were in one piece they would cover an area of 1341 acres. Supplies for the wimps were secured bj comprtitivo tenders. Certain ccoi = es have been effected by arrangements made with the Imperial Government Supplies Brancti i regard to fresh meat cheese and butter For the closing months of 1915 it cost approximately Is 8d per day per man to ?o P vide foe/for the men under training For f'ho summer months of 1916 the cost was down to Is but it has now gone back tothe former level. This cost covers three meals per man per day, also early morning tea "or coffee supper and pickets, morning tea, and auemooii tea The last named is supplied on ,ceount of continuous parades and instead ol a lowma the men to drink water. An idea of the omntitiS required is readily obtained from r,ian iieo ■ cs roughly covering 12 n XT 3, butter, jam, -, i -RnfiOO nil ons c-iiimeai, tresn milk, j.ou.lk.u &,« 420.0001 b; tea, 214,8501 b. The report pays a generous tribute to the nid rriven by Messrs A. H. Miles, Aicx ~aJ MiLcintosh George Wilson, A. M. -\dams, Sidney KirkcaldioJ. I. Morrison, n i? Tiiehie M P. Cameron, A. \N. Jhi F W Furkett, and Professor WorcV ' Owing to the gratuitous services thus endered thS purchase office had been conducted at a strikingly low cost of .00005 pet 2 0 n the value of business transacted. Approximately £2.000.000 represents the handling of about 50.000,000 articles. Tie report says that towards the end of last year owing to supplies from manufacturers ' not being delivered last enough various lines of heavy boots were purchased from Stocks held by warehousemen and retailors The design and quality of the boots purchased in this way varied, and led fim Root Manufacturers' Association of Now Zealand to state that they regarded the matter as unsatisfactory. At the request of these gentlemen Mr Myers consented to Mr 0 J Ward conferring with the staff of tho Quartermaster-general with a view of preparing samples of one design and quality. These designs were approved by the department and the manufacturers, and tenders were then invited for 1916 and reserve supplies—approximately 100,000 pairs. The 1916 boot has the advantage of two

complete soles, whilst the 1915 pattern had but one, the. advantage being that the boot is so constructed as to permit of the removal of the outer sole when it is worn out. and to leavo the second sole for future use. '• No complaints in reference to these boots have reached me," writes the Minister in Charge of the Department. "On the contrary, all the reports on them speak highly of their design and quality." A special section of the report is devoted to examining in great detail the possibility of making munitions in New Zealand, but the whole position boils down into the statement that an ample supply of suitable steel could not bo obtained. An inventory of tho machinery available in the dominion has been prepared for use should occasion over arise. An offer was received from a large manufacturing company in tho United States for tho supply and setting up of a complete plant to manufacture 100 rifles per day. The delivery of this plant could not be completed for two years, and the output would therefore most likely not be helpful in the present war. In addition, the capital expenditure was exceedingly large, and tho Cabinet decided that no action should be taken. Praise is given to Professor Scott (Christchurcli) for tho interest he took in the work of testing tho manufacture of shells and bayonets.

When the report had been presented Dr Thaekcr said ho wished to know why contracts on a largo scale were renewed without fresh tenders being called. He complained that contracts in some cases were; sublet to men who had to pay a 7£ per cent, war bonus, which the original contractors escaped.

The Hon. Mr Myers said he felt that he could convince any hon. member in a few moments that the dominion was obtaining the fullest value on its contracts for munitions. In nearly all cases the expiring contracts were anticipated and new contracts let.