H.—l9c

10

The witness who quoted Field Service Regulations, Part 11, page 24, was more to the point: " The essence of all efficient organization lies in due subdivision of labour and decentralization of responsibility among subordinates, each individual being given duties which he can perform adequately. At the same time, central control and. co-ordination of subordinate parts for the attainment of the common objective must be assured." Administrative Branches of the Adjutant-General's Department. In addition to the departments mentioned and recognized as coming under the Quartermaster-General, there are administrative branches under the AdjutantGeneral, such as Base Records —well managed and organized —where the history of each soldier in the Expeditionary Force is kept, and his next-of-kin and the public are apprised of casualties, the progress of sick and wounded, and of the return of men from the front. This branch records 106,000 separate histories, or " files " in military parlance. The Recruiting Branch deals with all questions regarding mobilization, discharge of soldiers, and of all matters, excepting discipline, arising out of the Military Service Act, such as the receipt and recording of appeals and the determination thereon of Appeal Boards, the issue of notices to Reservists drawn in the ballot, leave up to the arrival of Reservists in camp, and questions with regard to voluntary enlistment. This branch was constituted on the introduction of the, Military Service Act in July, 1916. The Director of Personal Services," a term signifying nothing to the uninitiated, really means the " Military Legal Adviser." The Director of Organization deals with odds and ends, such as the editing of the Regulations, General Orders, Army Lists, establishments, and other' publications. This branch provides Chaplains, and deals with the issue of medals and decorations. Why an officer dealing with such matters should be called a " Director of Organization " we shall have to leave to Your Excellency to determine, for we have to admit that the more explanation we received as to the reason the more foggy became our ideas on. the subject. These branches employ : — Military. Civil, Male. Civil, Female. Total. Base Records .. ..74' 23 117 214 Director of Recruiting . . 88 31 113 232 Director of Personal Services. .11 . . 11 22 Director of Organization ..7 4 .. 11 Total . . . . 180 58 241 479 The average pay is—For the military employees (of all ranks), £213 6s. Id. ; for the civil employees (male), £168 ss. Id. ; (female), £90 17s. 2d. By far the major portion of the Adjutant-General's duties are administrative, and they so often touch the functions of the more generally recognized Administrative Branches that confusion and misunderstanding are bound to arise. Noticeably this is so in the matter of pay and allowances, which, after a long period of uncertainty, was finally centred in the Adjutant-General. Only the tact and industry of the officer occupying the position of Adjutant-General have made things run. so smoothly. In our recommendations it will be, found that in our opinion, these administrative services should be handed over to the Administrative Department. The remaining items —which are small —would easily and naturally devolve on the Chief of the General Staff to carry out. We cannot find substantial reason for the continuance of the Adjutant-General's Department, and the services now operated by that department would be carried out by other organizations at a large saving in cost, and the work would be capable of more speedy fulfilment. An Expert Opinion of the Administrative Branches of Adjutant-General's Department. We were favoured, by some witnesses with very candid criticism as to the organization and work of certain administrative branches of the Adjutant-General's department, especially those dealing with records. This criticism, alleged poor organization, and consequent unduly costly results. Quite evidently, none of the