DEFENCE EXPENDITURE

Otago Witness, Issue 3336, 20 February 1918, Page 20

DEFENCE EXPENDITURE

SITTING OF THE. COMMISSION. AUCKLAND, February 12. At to-day's sitting Colonel Smith, temporarily in charge of the Auckland district, comoiained of tho unsatisfactory conditions in the Auckland Defence Office. The accommodation Was insufficient, and the room badlv ventilated and badly lighted. It was get the best results. Officers commanding districts had authority to spend up to ;£25, but were surrounded by such restrictions' that the authority could not be token advantage of. He suggested that the limit should be raised to £250, and the officer .-flowed to spend on his personal responsibility, -ii • Other witnesses generally agreed with tho suggestion. Sufficient responsibility was not thrown upon headquarters. The. restrictions tended to hamper initiative on the part of the officers. Lieutenant Boyle (formerly assistant director at the Narrow Neck camp) said the system of keeping ration accounts and indents v.js such that waste and 'misappropriations of food were quite simple. He had personally intended to improve the system, but niter it had been in force some time he was instructed to revert to the old system. Captain Kewish- (commanding the I ermanent Artillery detachment at Auckland) said ho had no authority to spend even a shilling on necessary equipment. He had to requisition the ordnance at, Wellington for everything. While the requisitions passed numerous hands, there were long delays in simple thuigs. Major Sir Robert Walker ( sen!or staff officer in the district) sajd his .principal duties were to superintend the training of Territorials and Cadets. . Other officers were allowed a good deal of latitude in running their own branch, and he did not interfere unless he saw that they were absolutely wrong or they came to him for advice. The Territorial force in the district comprised 5752, Senior Cadets 7626, and rifle clubs 2264—a lotal of 15.672. The .President: Do you think the regulations discourage them from using their initiative? —I do. I think centralisation in Wellington affects this to a considerable extent. The manager of a. good branch business would hjivo to take the responsibility for such things. For instance, there was tho matter of a temporary increase in staff during periods of rush. Mnjor Price, A.A.G. for the District, s-.i'd he thought there was a tendency to centralise things too much in Wellington, if greater responsibilities and sums of money were granted to various districts a paving would' in many cases be effected. A considerable quantity of chaff was required. Everybody knew the market was rising, and if power to purchase had been given to the district this purchase could have beet! made ahead, ami a considerable saving effected. A saving could' be effected c.1.'0 if men rejected n« medically unfit were not given the usual ss, as in many eases they were no doubt receiving wages. Tlm department was nut to considerable expense in convoying next-of-kin from various parts of the North Island to Auckland io meet returning men. This, he thought, could be eliminated. If the boat pot :n In time, r.iie men wore gent away the <amo evening, t-.o that even if the next-of-kin were not brought to Auckland it would only be ■■> matter of hours or so later before thvy met tUo '.';.■;. The percentage

of next-of-kin to returning men would be about 50. In reply to Mr Rhodes, he stated that a man's discharge did not necessarily date from the arrival from headquarters -of his pay book. If the pay book did not arrive by that time he -would still be discharged. Mr Rhodes: What docs he' do in the meantime?—Starve as a rule. He knows the conditions, and is able to make some provision. Does that appear to you quite rignt?—r No. I do not think it is, but there may bo a reason for it. Lieutenant Donald William Bodlo (Garrison Artillery), assistant director of supplies at Narrow Neck Camp from August, 1915. to February, 1917. and previously quartermaster of the Auckland Garrison Artillery Division, banded in a statement in which he said that by personal ex-perience-he had obtained an extensive knowledge of waste pertaining to rationing of troops. At one stage be requested the assistant director of supplies and transport in Auckland to permit him to utilise the monthly supply account for the Narrow, Neck Depot, including a cost sheet in place of the usual gross returns of goods only. He pointed out at the time by so doing the department could ascertain at a glance which unit was wasting rations issued and which was economical. He also suggested that a proper ledger account of each unit should be kepi at headquarters, indents being forwarded immediately after the issue" of stores. Hi is. he believed, would promote good control and economy, and would remove a temptation to theft, misappropriation, or misuse of stores, while orio of the staff of clerks would be able to keep all ledger accounts of the whole district. His request was refused. _ and tho suggestion ignored. He accordingly obtained permission from the A.Q.M.G. and general staff officer at Auckland to unitisa his own supply accounts, and from January to June, 1915, ho forwarded returns. Ho was then ordered to revert to the old system, and! did so till relieved of his duties in February,' 1917. He forwarded a complete description of his scheme to the Minister in April. 1917. In answer to tho President regarding the possibility of theft and fraud under the old system of accounts, tho witness said butter was drawn at Narrow Neck in his time about 5001 b a ■ month below the ration scale allowance. With the co-operation of any other member of the quartermaster's staff ho coukl have "got away" with 4001 b of butter monthly if he had chosen by "doctoring" the accounts, and District Headquarters would never even have suspected that anything was wrong. Captain Wiiliam Quayle Kowish (Commanding the Royal New Zealand Artillery Detachment at Auckland) stated that ho waa vesponsiblo for the pay of the men under his command and tqr tho supply of equipment and stores. Every article had to be requisitioned from the Ordnance Department, at Wellington and a requisition passed through innumerable hands, long delays resulting. lie suggested that the commission should trace the course of one of his requisitions and set an estimate on the value of the time of the various persons who handled it. It might then bo possible to compare the final cost of the article with that of the same article procured by a civilian in ordinary business. He personally had not power to spend a shilling, even when goods were urgently needed. He instanced n grate bottom, costing 4s. jfhich took eight or nine days to arrive, the delay causing a considerable waste of coal. Referring to pay. Captain Eewish stated

that several, homo service men under his command wished to get out on the ground that their -families could not live on their pay. These men drew 5s per day with Is per day for their wives and 9d per day for each child. They were lodged, clothed, and rationed. Regular R.N.Z.A. men, who drew 7s per day with a house and- other allowances and a war bonus, complained that their clothing allowance of 2s per month in lieu of uniform was inadequate. The sitting was adjourned, and the commission visited. the Colonial Ammunition Company's works. February 13. The Defence Expenditure Commission resumed its sittings to-day. Lieutenant Bodle, ex-Director of Supplies at Narrow Keek camp, recalled, gave further evidence regarding the receipt, issue, use, and waste in reference to the rationing of troops. lie submitted returns of the system in vogue before he took charge and of the system proposed by him whereby there would be a check on dishonesty or waste. Certain changes had been made in the meantime, and he claimed that these had been made as a result of his representations. Captain Mellows, Assistant Director of Supplies and Transport for the Auckland district, stated that the system submitted by Lieutenant Bodle varied very little from that in vogue at present. He was .satisfied with the system, and thought it fairly effective, but admitted that if a man liked to bo dishonest it might be open to error or fraud. There was also the possibility that this fraud might not be detected.In reply to the president, he stated that possibly the introduction of Lieutenant Bodle's system would tend to the prevention of any manipulation of accounts. He would make suggestions for improvements if he saw that these were necessary. He had been in his present position about three years, and did not know.that he had made any suggestions. had to obey orders, and had followed the instructions laid down. The President: Then we come to the fact that you are first and foremost a soldier, and that, whether the system is good or bad. you would follow it?—Yes, I bapposo, sir. I have to obey orders. The President: But do you not realty that, while this may bo imperative on active service, there may be roo:.: for suggestions when you are not? What is running through my mind is that yov. should have boon for three yours running a system obviously defective 'without making t>ome suggestion for its improvement. Mr Mellows: I may suggest that Lieu - tenant Bodle made j\ recommendation to Wellington. The President: Do you know why Lieutenant Bodle was removed? —One of the reasons was that there was not enough work for him But the fact remains that you dici not know what it cost to-feed a man or a horse?—Wo could very soon get it if wo wanted it. How cuii you toll?-We can tell whether rations are overdrawn or underdrawn. Do you do that?—Yes. And the cost?—No. How can you possibly arrive at anything accurate by only knowing that this or that unit draws a little more or a little less than another, not knowing the cost- of the material? —As supply officers- we are not asked to give this information. Captain W. Y. Wilson, Assistant Quar-termaster-general, of Auckland, gave _ instances of red tape in the matter of minor supplies.

The commission adjourned, and visited the Narrow Nook camp. February 14. Tho Defence Expenditure Commission resumed its sittings to-day. Hugh J. Mulhollarid (regimental quartermaster, R.N.Z A ) said that immediately a man joined the R.N.Z.A. he was put on probation for six months, when he would be eligible to- sit for second-class examination. If he passed he would receive 6d per day extra. At the end of 12 months he was allowed to go up for a first-class examination, which, if ho passed, entitled him to an extra Is per flay. At the end of five years, if his good conduct sheet was satisfactory, ho received another 3d per day, after 10 years 6d per day, after 15 years 9d per day and after 20 'years Is per day. Under this system, after five years a man would be receiving 8s 9d per day. In addition, he received an allowance of 2s per mouth for uniform:. If a man were out_ of barracks lie received 2s per day as ration allowance, but. if he were in barracks he received free rations. All single men were in barracks, and married men out of barracks. A married man also received £ls per year house allowance in lieu of quarters* Payment was for every day of too week. About 75 per cent, of the men at present had 10 years' service, as all the single men had gone to tho war. A member of the R.N.Z.A. had to find his equipment himself on tho allowance of 2s per month. It cost him about £9 per annum to buy equipment. Tho age of retirement was 53 years, or 30 years' service, wlren a man had no option. Gregory George Norris (gunner in the R.N.Z.A ) said he was a married man with two children. He was in receipt of 7s 3d per day, Sd per day "for good conduct, Is per day for proficiency allowance, 2s per day ration allowance, and 2s per month uniform allowance, and also a house allowance. At present he was in charge of the steamer Lady Roberts, but there was no one to exercise any supervision over stores. As an instance he mentioned that at the outbreak of the war the boiler broke down. At that time it could have been repaired for £4OO, whereas the work was delayed for six months and finally cost £BOO. Some four months ago he had applied for rubbers for the ports, as they were leaking, and he received them only last week. Because of the delay considerable damage was done. He also wanted Is worth of twine to stop the water from coming through the deck. He had applied for this nine months ago, and had not received it yet. He considered that tho -boat had depreciated £BOO more than she should have done because of these delays and restrictions. There was a very grave risk in running the boat as she was. James N. Baster (gunner attached to the R.N.Z.A. for home service) gave evidence with regard to his pay, which he stated was 5s per day with allowances. He was married, but lived at tho barracks and was allowed •Is per day separation allowance. He considered this insufficient, and thought he should be nlaccd on the same footing as the R.N.Z.A. Captain Smith (district paymaster) stated that the system in force was a fairly good one and he did not think it needed altering. They were hampered, however, by a lack of proper accommodation, and this impaired the efficiency of the staff about 25 per cent. He thought an improvement could be. made in the soldiers' paybooks, and had suggested this about three years ago, but nothing had been done. Witness also mentioned anomalies existing in some of the present rates of pay. A sergeantmajor on the permanent staff' received lis per day. In the military police ,a private received 13s 3d per day, while a military police sergeant-major received 15e 3d per day. These amounts included allowances. February 15. Giving evidence before the Defence Expenditure Commission 'this morning Major Andrews, referring to Sir James Allen's promise that separation allowances for home service men should be the same a,s for men on active service—3s per day for the wife and Is for each child —said this statement was made before the effect of the new allowance on the existing rates had been appreciated. Figures since submitted to the Minister showed that it was not possible to grant these allowances without increasing the total emolument paid to many married men with families out of all proportion to the value of their 'services to the State, and greatly exceeding the "rate paid to military and civil servants holding positions of considerable responsibility, and it had therefore been decided that tho old allowances in tho home service branch of Is per day for a wife and 9d per child could not be increased.