PARADE OF FIJI CONTINGENT. WAR EXPENDITURE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LXVIII, Issue 14203, 4 February 1915, Page 6

PARADE OF FIJI CONTINGENT.

WAR EXPENDITURE.

LONDON, Wednesday

The Fiji contingent has parader at tho War Office. The newspapers warmly comment on their patriotism.

DOMINION'S BILL FOR THE YEAR

DUNEDIN, Tuesday

The Hon. James Allen, Defence Minister, spoke appreciatively, in the course of an interview to-day, regarding the ready and generous manner in -which all classes of the community had contributed to most of the funds, and had given material to assist in _ the splendid equipment of the Expeditionary Forces. He said that, apart altogether from local movements, the people of New Zealand had contributed directly to the Empire Defence Fund, which is administered by the Government, close on £150,000. A great deal of the money had been earmarked for the purposes specified by the donors, but a considerable amount had been given without any special request as to its allocation. Much of this amount ha 3 not yet been allocated, and until that has been done it will be impossible for the Minister to submit complete details .

Questioned as to New Zealand's expenditure in connection with the war, Mr Allen replied that it would be very misleading to make any definite statement at present. The xependiture had certainly been heavy, but the results had been highly satisfactory. Wellequipped forces had been sent upon Imperial enterprises, and strong reinforcements were under training for service. The second reinforcements had reached their port of disembarkation, with men and horses in good condition. It had been previously estimated that our ■war expenditure would total £2,000,000 by the end of the financial year, and the present position was such as to confirm that opinion. But satisfactory arrangements had been made for finance, and there was no difficulty in the way of the Dominion continuing to forward reinforcements to the main force at the

front. Some surprise had boon occasioned by a rather unexpected demand for artillery, field engineers and army service corps. The reason was this: Lord Kitchonor desired to . establish two serviceable divisions from New 1 Zealand, Australia, and other troops, aud had asked if New Zealand could supply somothing moro than originally sought, in order to create those divisions. Tho Government had immediately agreed to do everything possible to servo Lord Kitchener's requirements. That was why Now Zoaland was sendin" 1 two additional batterios of artillery, another company of field engineers, and anothor company of army service corps for sorvico wherover required by tho Imperial authorities, "in respect to the usual Territorial camps'in New Zoaland this year, theso, the Minister explained, will bo on a more modest scale than has hitherto been the practice. Training will b of an elementary nature, but thorough. As to tho question of regulations dealing with refractory soldiers on active service, the Minister pointed out that our troops woro now absolutely under the British Army Act regulations, and tho Commandant had exactly tho same powers as thoso hold and exorcised by British Genorals.