H.—24

4

The three issues combined are shown in the following table giving details of the complet* equipment for infantry and mounted men : —

From the above it will be seen that at the present time it costs the Dominion £22 6s. Bd. to equip an Infantry man and £22 7s. 9d. to equip a Mounted man for active service with the Expeditionary Forces. In regard to the comparison of cost, taking the year 1915 as against 1916, the position is as follows : — Percentage of Increase, 1916 over 1915 /'rices. Mounted. Infantry. Issue of personal equipment as shown above ... ... 1345 1267 Accoutrements issued as shown above ... ... ... 40' 10 54 - 50 Percentage of increase on total cost per man ... ... 2200 2561 As regards the items issued as personal equipment above mentioned, in view of the increased weights of cloths and the superior quality of the underclothing, boots, and other articles arranged for, I have no hesitation in regarding the increase indicated as a most reasonable one under the conditions now obtaining. In placing orders for such large quantities of goods as are now required to meet present military commitments it will be readily understood that in providing for the quantities wanted it has been found necessary to slightly deviate in respect to quality, weight, and colour from standards which were laid down when provision had only to be made for much smaller numbers of troops. In this matter, too, it has been found necessary to spread the orders for particular lines throughout the Dominion, and in such cases it has been considered reasonable to accept quotations on f.o.b. prices, so that merchants or manufacturers were in all parts on equal terms in this respect. During 1915 the policy of accepting quotations " delivered to Defence Stores, Wellington," was rarely departed from.

Mom 'ED Men. lira At ST. Article. §8, •■a . ° % s Cost of Issue per Man. Article. 88, °=> £ OX* Cost of Issue per Man. 1915. 1916. 1915. 1916. Issue of Personal Equipment. Issue of Personal Equipment. Tunics.. Trousers Putties Greatcoat Hat and puggaree Cap Kit-bag Blankets Braces Boots Drawers Shirts, working Shirts, under Shoes Suit, denim Seeks Cholera-belt Holdall Sea-kit Jersey Housewife Knife, fork, spoon Plate and mug Towels Sheet, waterproof £ s. d. 1 18 6 1 3 4 0 4 0 1 16 0 0 6 2 0 4 2 0 3 3 1 4 0 0 13 1 16 10 0 8 6 0 12 6 0 8 6 0 6 9 0 8 6 0 3 0 0 1 2 0 0 41 0 0 4 0 5 6 0 0 10 0 1 6 0 0 41 0 16 0 8 9 £ s. d. 2 9 9 1 7 5J 0 5 41 2 2 5| 0 5 6|0 4 3 0 3 'i\ 1 6 0 0 1 0£ 1 18 0 0 10 0 0 14 0 0 9 10 0 6 6 0 8 8 0 4 Of 0 2 1 0 0 51 0 0 2$ 0 5 6 0 0 6 0 I (i 0 0 4| 0 1 5 0 8 5 Tunics.. Pantaloons Putties Greatcoat Hat and puggaroe Cap Kit-bag Blankets Braces.. Boots Drawers Shirts, working Shirts, under Shoes Suit, denim Socks Cholera-belt Holdall Sea-kit 2 2 1 I 1 1 1 3 1 2 2 2 2 1 I 3 1 I I 1 1 1 1 2 1 £ s. d. I 18 6 1 7 0 0 4 0 1 16 0 0 6 2 0 4 2 0 3 3 1 4 0 0 1 3 1 16 10 0 8 6 0 12 6 0 8 6 0 6 9 0 8 6 0 3 0 0 1 2 0 0 \\ 0 0 4 0 5 6 0 0 10 0 1 6 0 0 4| 0 1 6 0 8 9 £ s. d. 2 9 9 1 13 0J0 5 4J 2 2 5J 0 5 8J 0 4 3 0 3 3J 1 (i 0 0 1 0J 1 18 0 0 10 0 0 14 0 0 9 10 0 6 6 0 8 8 0 4 Of 0 2 1 0 0 5i 0 0 2$ 0 5 6 0 0 6 0 1 6 0 0 4J 0 1 5 0 8 5 2 2 1 1 I 1 1 3 1 2 2 2 2 1 1 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 Jersey Housewife Knife, fork, spoon Plate and mug Towels Sheet, waterproof 12 5 7 13 .1.0 8£ Issue of Accoutrements. Rifle .. Bayonet Scabbard Pull-through Oil-bottle Water-bottle Water-bottle carrier Haversack Bandolier (150 rounds) .. Moss-tins, complete Identity-disc 12 9 3 3 12 0 0 8 3 o :s 3 0 0 4 0 o :i| 0 2 7 0 2 4 0 1 4 1 4 0 0 3 3J 0 0 1 14 2 9| 5 10 0 0 12 0 0 6 10 0 0 5 0 0 10 0 2 10 0 3 4 0 I (i 1 4 0 0 3 2 0 0 1 Issue of Accoutrements. Rifle .. Bayonet Scabbard Pull-through Oil-bottle Webb equipment, pattorn 1908 Water-bottle Implements, ontronching, heads Implements, ontronching, helves Mess-tins, complete Identity-disc 3 4 3 0 8 3 0 2 5 0 0 4 0 0 3j 1 6 5 0 2 7 0 1 2 5 10 0 0 12 0 0 6 10 0 0 5 0 0 10 1 11 9 0 2 10 0 1 4 0 0 4J 0 0 6 0 3 10 0 0 1 0 3 4i 0 0 1 5 17 m 8 5 0 Totals .. 5 10 0 8 9 Il£ Totals 18 7 0; 22 7 9J 17 15 7 22 6 7g