A BIG BILL

Otago Witness, Issue 3312, 5 September 1917, Page 41

A BIG BILL

THE COST OF THE WAR

EXPENSE OF TROOPS AND TRANSPORTS.

A statement showing tho net expenditure of tho war up to March 31 was presented to the House of Representatives on Wednesday by tho Defenco Minister. The statement is as follows :

Pay and allowances, £8,458,769. Transport of troops, including charter of steamers, meals, and tares ot men travelling to join, freight, cartage, etc., £3,535,721. Payment to War Oriice for maintenance of troops in field', munitions, and transport, £4,500,000. Equipment, £1,913,934. Rations, £92,142. Expenses ot camps, including concentrating, £488,580. Homo defence, £260,552 Hospital ship Maheno, £200,652. Hospital ship Mamma, £167,478. Medical expenses (including equipment for hospitals and investments), £33b,198. Clerical assistance, £106,344. Prisoners of war, £52,441. Purchaso of horses, £209,468. Forage, £249,396. Advertising, printing, and office equipment, £68,644. ■Canteens on transports, £12,652. Mechanical transport, £20,255. Post-ago and telegrams, £61,676. Superannuation to public servants on service, £35,345. Travelling expenses and allowances, £9200. Commission of inquiry, £1067. Allowances to wives of Imperial Reservist! residing in New Zealand, £5099. Deposits for allotments through post offices in United Kingdom, £79,650. Discharged Soldiers' Department, £3424. Distribution of war news and casualties for New Zealand, £260,000. Freight on British and Belgian relief produce, £656. Grants to regimental funds, £1699. Grants to'soldiers' hostels, £3500. Half-cost reinsurance death benefits friendly society members with, forces, £7422. Munitions and Supplies Department expenses, £4033. Expenses of administration Military Service Act. £16,671. War bonus military staff. £6494. National Efficiency Board administrative expenses, £491. Tho list included many other minor items. The total net expenditme for war purnoses was as follows: To December 31, 1916, £14,557,177. From December 31, 1916. to March 51, 1917. £7,447,506. Grand total to March 31, 1917, £22,004,653.

There is oxpended under section 6 cf 'The Public. Revenues Amendment, Act, 1915," the sum of £201,584 for relief purposes in Belgium, and £l6O for similar purposes in New Zealand.