DEFENCE ECONOMIES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12082, 10 August 1917, Page 6

DEFENCE ECONOMIES.

UTILISING WASTE PRODUCTS

jTHF CAM!' SERVICES. Some of the economies that have been effected hy the Defence Department during the last twelve months, in consequence of experience acquired during the earlier stages of the war, arc mentioned in the annual report of the Quartermaster-General. The total •savings amounts to many thousands of pound?.

A boot repair shop was started in January last, and a staff of nine *nen. employed, who repair an average of four hundred pairs weekly. The result has proved most, satisfactorv both financially and as regards the quality of work. Since starting this shop the price of all materials has considerably increased, the price of leather alone having advanced by Od a po-.ind. while the cost, of other articles has increased proportionately. Nevertheless firstclass materials only have been used for repairs, and the cost of half-doling and heeling boots—after allowing for wages, maintenance, depreciation iof material and machinery—has been reduced by lOd per pair as compared with the lowest quotation submitted in December, 1910. In addition, the Department has the satisfactory knowledge that all materials used are of the best quality, and that the boots are thoroughly repaired by expert tradesmen. The total number of boots repaired to April 30 was four thousand pairs, thus effecting a saving of £.IOO 13s 4d. equal to an annual economy of £SOO.

Tn October, 1910, regulations were, introduced, controlling the return of all empty fired brass cartridge- cases, and during a period of six months the ann/.int realised under the contract for thp sale of those cartridge cases was £lO7l lSs lid, which sum has been paid into the Public Account. This amount is in respect; of cartridge cases received from Expeditionary Force camps only. When the whole of the. fired cartridge cases have been collected and sold it is estimated (that approximately £SOOO will! be realised during the twelve months. Instructions have been issued and brought into I operation relative to the return of worn-out garments, cordage, canvas, scrim, shakings, etc.. no matter how valueless they appeared. These ha.ve realised no less a sum than £BOS lOti 9di This, added to £lO7l 18s lid realise 4 for fmed cartridge cases, gives a total sum realised and paid into the Public Account of £2477 9s Bd.

During the year a large number of part-worn garments of all descriptions, received from camps, have been sortfedjOMfc, and those considered fit for repair placed aside. A contract was arranged for the sterilisation and renovation of this clothing, which, when received from the contractor after sterilisation, washing and renovation, was almost (as good as new, and is issued to home servico soldiers and Territorials, thus materially reducing the coijit of equipping. Army Service Corps bakeries have bean established at Trentliam and Featlwrston Camps, and for the past twjelve months the whole of the bread requirements for those two camps, averaging 60001b and 70001b respectively daily, lias been turned out at an average cost of b\oT>d per 41b. A more up-to-date bakery is in course of erection at!Trentham Camp, and when complete will further decrease the cost of bread production by approximately £llOO per anlnum.

Largo quantities of condensed milk, bacon, preserved meat, jam, peas, beans, cheese, flour, sugar and butter for the use of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in the United Kingdom are sent monthly or as transports are available, and as these sMpplins can be landed ex transports at a. much lesa cost than by purchase in England, rt thus materially decreases the cost of maintenance of the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces in England.