WAR EXPENDITURE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3334, 6 February 1918, Page 37

WAR EXPENDITURE.

COMMISSION OF INQUIRY. WELLINGTON, January 29. The Defence Expenditure Conainisglon met 'to-day to discuss preliminarke. Th» commission is directed to inquire and report on the financial and the economy of tfea financial administration of the Defence D%- 1 !>artment and other departments aotinff with t dtiring the war with reference to the following; matters: 1. Headquarters and other adniinistrativ* branches of the service. 2. The methods of control or supervWonr ary expenditure. 3. The pay and allowances of the defence forces or of civilians engaged In the iervico in relation to Hhe itfar. 4. Military stores, equipment, &nd eupplies. $. Military camps. 6. Transport of troops. 7. Hospital ships. 8. Military hospitals. 9. Medical and dental examinations and treatment. 10. Military Service Beards. 11. All other matters involving public w penditoire for the purposes of the war. The commission has power to call and examine witnesses and call for documents and records. The report U to be completed by June 30.

—An interesting feature in the develop ment of Italian aircraft ia the mounting of a machine gun, which fires 600 shots a minute through a propeller making -]2OO revolutions a minute.

Lancewood is said to bo the stoutest wood known; its tensile strength per equaro inch is 23,000 lb —that is to sayv that weight is required to tear asunder a piece of it lin square.