WAR WORK.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15492, 23 April 1918, Page 7

WAR WORK.

The Bed Cross Bhop, His Majesty's Buildings, will be well to the fore again on Wedncoday, when the bdiew of St. John's Hill west will be in charge. With a view to making their day tlie best yet, they have been working moat enthusissriinslly for some time past. Prises are offered for the most useful working apron, the daintiest afternoon apron, sad the best iced sponge sandwich. The articles submitted will be sold in the •hop. The generous patronage of the public is agsu invited. The time for entries for the sponge sandwich competition is extemdsd till 9 a m. to-morrow.

DEFENCE EXPENDITURE.

THE COMMISSION OF INQUIBY. (Per United Pteaa Association.) WELLINGTON, April 23. Before the Defence Expenditure Commission to-day Cclouel li. J. Collins, Audtior Controller-General, gave evidence as to auditing the war accounts. He stated that when claims were obcerved by the Auditor-General which showed what secnxxl to l>e unreasonable expenditure or waßte of public money, he considered it his duty to call the Minister's attention to it. Both the Minister and the 0 C. assisted him in every way in carrying out his duties. The charge for ammunition made against the New Zealand Forces was In a day per man at Gallipoli, but it had risen to 7s lid in France. There had been some delay in paying men on discharge, but this was partly owing to the delay in receiving the quittance roll from the paymaster in London. The roll now in New Zealand was up to December last. No cases of fraud in regard to public moneys for war purposes had come under his notice, but there had »e?n cases in which allotment money had been fraudulently obtained, also cases of officers of the Defence Department failing to account for moneys passing through their hands, but in most cases these had been recovered. Some Defence officers resented queries by the Andit Office as a reflection op their personal integrity. He did not regard his statutory powers as requiring him to express an opinion on the subject of rdministration extravagance.