WAR EXPENSES.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LXVIII, Issue 14204, 5 February 1915, Page 5

WAR EXPENSES.

DUNEDIN, Thursday.

A reportor who called upon the Hon. Mr Allen, Minister for Defence, learned some interesting facts respecting the position of the war expenses account of the Government. The sum of £146,362 10s 5d has been received by the Government in the way of contributions to the Empire defence fund. A proportion of the money, £9730 7s 6d, was contributed for specified objects, and of that amount £3167 12b 4d has been expended in the purchase of horses, £2264 16s 8d has ben devoted to the school ambulance fund, £2130 10s 3d to the field ambulance, and £1106 14s in the purchase of motors. Other amounts have also been expended in the direction indicated by the donors. .

The balance of the contributions, amounting to £136,632 2s lid, will be allocated as tho Government may ' decide, and a portion of it has already been used to meet expenses in connection with the war. The Government has also expended £50,723 los 5d for the purchase of horses, and £5840 12s 6d for mechanical transport. The £20,000 voted under the Appropriation Act of last year for Belgian relief has been forwarded, and by this time, no doubt, has fulfilled its object of mercy. Large sums have been spent on equipment, forage, transport and other items, but at present it is not possible to state the exact amount.