Untitled

Colonist, Volume LX, Issue 14651, 4 March 1918, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE MUDDLE.

Everyone knew that the Australian 'Department'of Defence was in a state of inuddlement—one had only to have a transaction or two with the military to discover that—but the full extent of the chao-s that exists remained to be made clear by a Koyal Commission (says a Sydney correspondent). This body was «et up last, July, and signed its report in November. Jt then reported "fun-, damental defects which, in the public interests, should have immediate and complete remedy;'" so it was only in the natural order of things that the report should bo held three months before publication. Here are some of the instances ot 'muddlemcnt quoted by the Commission :— 1. Stores were collected in 1915-16 tor the equipment of three new divisions, thougn only one new division was formed vi Australia. 2.-Though the.' 'monthly reinforcements fell much below anticipation, stocks were still accumulated on the basis of original anticipations. 3. In certain lines, the following stocks have accumulated: —Boots' £700----000; jackets and material, £600,000; greatcoats and material, £643,000. The total in those lines alone is £2,000,000, of which £1,250,000 is in excess of requirements. 4. About £30,000 was spent in newpattern boots, which were then iound to be unsuitable.

5 There are in store waggons to the] value of ■ £90,000, which have been, found unsuitable for farm or trade purposes. 6. The -stocks of military poods in] hand are worth £6,000,000, of winch; £2,000,000 represents goods m excess of | requirements. • i V. Stocks in New South Wales arcj scattered through 25 stores, Avith con-; sequent heavy expense in handling and j protection. 8. -There is inadequate protection against lire. In one store £300,000 worth oi khiiki is poorJy. protected. 9. The orduance. .section is worked by men without business training —"a dumping-ground for- smsl'iis and inefticients." A permanent ordnance section is necessary. 10. There is circumlocution and overlapping in the administration of the Department. The Commission makes a series of reasonable recommendations for" the businesslike organisation of ths Department. Meanwhile, no one seems to have got excited ov.or the report, which Avould have wrecked v Government in any other country. Senator1 i'earce, the-perfectly hopeless -Minister for Defence, comniouting on the report, says: l'l think that, the .Government should be satisfied that the Defence Department has, under the circumstances, done remarkably well." Millions of pounds of the people's money have been Avasted —but there is not to be a • star or stripe the less in the Australian army.