DEFENCE EXPENDITURE.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16143, 22 February 1918, Page 8

DEFENCE EXPENDITURE.

SITTINGS OF COMMISSION AT

PALMER STON

(PRESS ASSOCIATION TEI.E.RVM.I PALMERSTON >"., February 21

Th© Defence Expenditure Commission, consisting-of Sir Robert Anderson, Messrs Rhodes, and Peter Barr, sat in tho Courthouse to-day, when the evidence of Colonel Hume and Lieut.Colonel McDonald was takon.

Lieut.-Colonel Thomas William McDonald, General Staff Officer, stated he had been on tho permanent servico for nearly 20" years. He considered over-centralisation a great mistake. There were four military districts, and a camp should have been established in each. The centralisation of the camps at Featherst-on and Trentham would mean a loss of the amount oi : their cost, which might be £100,000 or £200,000 to the country when tne war was over, as they could not by used for_ the training of th<j homo forces, which would entail too great an expenditure in travelling expenses. This method did not make tho most use of the efficient officers in other districts.

The chairman: Are these officers 'tofc fully ocupied? Witness: They are finding work for themselves. I contend tho present system is cumbersome to a degree. The Camp Commandant controls at Featherston 700 men, who are not divided into battalions. H e is supposed to investigate all matters, and read all evidence in all cases before applying for courtmartials, etc., and he cannot possibly do so, and carry out his work.

Witness went on to say that he did not consider Trentham a suitable place for a camp. He then detailed a scheme for the reorganisation of the whole camp system. "We have lost at least £ 100,000 through our canteens, by letting them on contract instead of running them ourselves. We are now saving probably £25,000 annually in ■ Featherston, selling the goods cheaper than when under contract, and are making as much profit as we got for the contract." instances wore given of the differences in allowances betwoen officers of equal rank in camp and out of camp. A lieutenantcolonel in camp, who was housed free, got £600 and amounting to $191 12s 6d, A man of similar rank on the staff outside camp got £000, but only £36 10s allowances, and had to find his house. An instance of waste of money was tho painting of all transports for tho Main Body as they linked up with the men from Australia, where this wasteful policy had not been carried out. At the end of the journey, many of the boats had to be restored in colour before handing them back to tho shipping companies, all this entailing considerable expense. In this district there was. a shortage of arms amounting to £5587, and equipment amounting to £2069. Taking the other three districts into account, there was probably £20,000 worth of these goods unaccounted for since 1914. No doubt much had gone with the men on active service, but thero was no record of how much. Lax supervision and want of proper (stock-taking would account for this: Much detailed evidence was given under this head.

The position of the Director of Recruiting in Wellington and the group commanders was conflicting and expensive. Tho telegraph was used by the Dirjxstor of Recruiting to notify recruits drawn in the ballot, where memos from the group office would answer the purpose. The Director of Recruiting in Wellington now had a staff of 152, whicli he- considered unnecessary. Reference was also made to discrepancies betwoen soldiers' files in the recruiting ofnre and the group office, and the employment of inspectors to make connexions: The lack of co-ordination throughout the service and th<s overlapping of departments was a subject requiring great consideration, and _in the reconstruction of this a vast saving oould be made. There was a great deal of waste in connexion with Medical Boards. They consisted of two doctors, a military attesting officer, a sergeantmajor, and threo clerks. They received salaries and travelling expenses. He considered the clerical staff could be dispensed with, and clerks from tho group otaff utilised for the purpose. In this district one of the three Appeal Boards could be cut out altogether. Ho considered the military representative quite unnecessary, as the group officer had to supply him with all the information, and could therefore act as military representative when needed. He understood the military representative of the Board which was practically in residence in Wellington, drew travelling expenses all the time.

Tho chairman: His would be a coveted position.

The question of horses for artillery training camps next came under review. Witness said they were not allowed to T>uv horses, yet it cost £'12 per horse for hire for 30 days, when the ■horses' values were only £9 10b each. He favoured buying: horses and selling them afterwards. The present system of military law and discipline was costly and ineffective. When a man became a /soldier he had no fewer than 21 commanding officers. The method of bringing deserters from long distances for investigation was very expensive, involving witnesses' expenses also in every case. It was suggested by witness that the Commission should enquire into the contracts made with officers imported from England. He qnestioned if the terms cf their contract were being carried out. Some who cam© out under engagement at a certain salary for certain position had been removed to higher positions at higher salaries, ana this was detrimental to colonial officers as well as to other imported officers.. The chairman (smiling): iSenehcial variations. _ . , Witney-, Wc liavo m ISow Zealand

officers who are quite as capable of filling these positions.. The chairman: They have proved that by their achievements abroad. Witness: When I returned from England Tvitli the highest credentials, I was sent to i'acioa. My time was wasted there. Knowledge, experience, and backbono are the greatest bar to advanc;ment I find. I havo had exceptional experience, but 1 find it a drawback. i hav9 s;>en men put over my head in .staff departments without any knowledge of staff work. I could have saved this country a quarter of a milbut I don't get the chance. > Witness finally dealt with the training of moil. He considered the period of training could be cut down by a month, three months being amplo time. Ho also favoured the establishment of au officers' training school hero, like they had in England. The Court then adjourned and visited the Awanuni Camp.