PEACE ECONOMIES IN AUSTRALIA

Colonist, Volume LXII, Issue 15238, 27 November 1919, Page 3

PEACE ECONOMIES IN AUSTRALIA

WASTEFUL ADMINISTRATION • CONDEMNED.

The first progress report of the Commonwealth Royal Commission appointed to report on the .public expenditure of the Commonwealth, with a view to effecting economies, was tabled in the Federal Parliament some days ago. It has been in the possession of the Government since July 16th. The report is one long record of inefficient departmental administration. It gives striking examples of extravagance and mismanagement, and generally constitutes a most scathing indictment of Government methods of administration. A number of important recomimendations are embodied in the report, some of which appear to have been acued upon by the Government, in framing the Estimates for the current financial year. The Commission furnishing the report consisted of Messrs. R. Gibson (chairman), G. H. Turton. and G. G. Haldane. They state: — "An investigation of the Defence Department's expenditure six months after the signing of the armistice shows that there is little evidence of those considerable reductions within Australia which it is reasonable to expect should now be taking place, especially in actiivties which do not appear to bo further required for war purposes. . . . Evidence is not lacking that there is a desire in some quarters to maintain the military spirit, and permanently saddle the country with an expenditure for defence which would be exceedingly onerous. We think that one of the most .important benefits anticipated from the war was that, as far as possible, an end would be put to the burden involved in pre-war time in military preparation. But it is quite certain that if the position in regard to defence is not reviewed at the earliest possible moment, the annual expenditure of the Defence Department, after the war, will be some two or three million pounds greater than it was in 1913----1914, in addition to a largo increase in capital expenditure. The three chief factors causing this expenditure are: —( a ) The increased numbers now coming under the universal training scheme; (b) the proposal to provide an arsenal; (c) the proposal to provide an aircraft service." The Commission reports that from information which it has been able to obtain it seems doubtful whether the expenditure incurred in training junior cadets serves any useful purpose from a military point of view. It is strongly recommended that until a definite policy can be laid down in regard to future requirements, action should be taken to suspend all expenditure on military activities, other than are necessary for the demobilisation of troops, the protection of war material and equipment, buildings and factories, and tho preservation of the nucleus of an expert staff, representing the various arms of the service, including arsenal and aircraft, and indispensable factories. Without expressing any definite opinion as to the permanent policy in regard to defence, the Commission suggests that it is worth considering whether Australia's power of defence would not be better strengthened by spending more of the money available for defence in increasing the population.