ECONOMY IN CAMP.

Waipawa Mail, Volume XXXVII, Issue 7920, 18 August 1917, Page 4

ECONOMY IN CAMP.

810 SAVINGS EFFECTED. Considerable savings in Defence expenditure are recorded in the Defence Department’s annual report presented to Parliament. In the section devoted to the QuartermasterGeneral ’s branch it is stated As the system of cartage by private contract was not altogether satisfactory, it was decided to provide Defence transport. This new arrangement, which was commenced in September, 1916, has proved most successful, and after providing for wages, maintenance, and depreciation a large saving has been effected. During a recent visit to Auckland the Director of Equipment and Ordnance Stores discussed with Professor Worley the question of retinning, and explained a method of retinning utensils adopted by the natives of India. Professor Worley entered heartily into the proposition, and has completed his first experiments, the result of which has exceeded all expectations. Endeavors are now being made to procure a sufficient supply of the necessary ingredients td enable a method of retinning, based on these experiments, to be adopted. Fresh contracts were let for the laundry work in connection with the camps and hospitals, with the result that a saving of £614 is shown, as compared with the rates previously paid. PART-WORN GARMENTS AND SPENT CARTRIDGE CASES. During the year a large number of part-worn garments of all descriptions, received from camps, have been sorted out, and those considered fit for repair placed aside. A contract was arranged for the sterilisation and renovation of this clothing. The following table shows:—(a) Articles of clothing included in contract; (b) contract prices for sterilisation and renovation; (c) issue prices when new.

(a). (b.) (c). s. d. £ s. d. Greatcoats 7 0 2 6 0 Greatcoats 7 0 22 6 Jackets 6 2 1 6 0 Trousers 4 8 015 0 Towels 0 1 0 1 0 Puggarees 0 1£ 0 1 0 Puttees (pair) 0 3-0 6 0 Blankets (each) ..0 6 011 0 Kit-bags o#3 0 4 0 This clothing, when received from 'the contractor after sterilisation, washing, renovation, is almost as good as new and is issued to home service soldiers and Territorials, thus materially reducing the cost of equipping. In October, 1916, regulations were introduced controlling the return of all empty fired brass cartridge-cases, and during a period of six months the amount realised under the contract for the sale of these cartridgecases was £1671 18s lid, which sum has been paid into the Public Account. This amount is in respect of cartridgecases received from Expeditionary Force camps only. When the whole of the fired cartridge cases have been collected and sold it is Estimated that aproximately £SOOO will be realised during the twelve months. Instructions have been issued and brought into operation relative to the return of worn-out garments, cordage, canvas, scrim, shakings, etc., no matter how valueless they appeared. These have realised no less a sum than £BOS 10s 9d. This, added to £1671 18s lid, realised for fired cartridgecases, gives a total sum realised and paid into the Public Account of £2477 9s Bd. 6.05 d FOR THE 41b. LOAF. Army Service Corps bakeries have been established at Trentham and Featherston camps, and for the past twelve months the whole of the bread requirements for these two camps, averaging 60001 b. and 70001 b. respectively daily, has been turried out at an average cost of 6.05 d per 41b. A more up-tordate bakery is in course of erection at Trentham Camp, and when complete will further decrease the cost of bread-production by approximately £I4OO per annum.

Large 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 supplies can be landed ex transports at a much less cost than by purchase in England, it thus materially decreases the cost of maintenance of the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces in England.