DEFENCE EXPENDITURE.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16158, 12 March 1918, Page 7

DEFENCE EXPENDITURE.

SITTINGS OF COMMISSION AT DUNEDIN. (press association teleubam.) DUNEDIN, March 11. Before the Defence Expenditure Commission, 'Captain Myers, Assistant Ad-' jutantwGeneral of the Otago district, said that money could be saved :n regard to tho method of calling up reserves. It would simplify tho procedure and lessen expense if the willing up notico was sent by the Group Commaifder. Witness suggested that it would save money and time if more discretion were granted to district headquarters in regard to granting leave to men coming from camp. Sometimes five or six telegrams had to be sent to Wellington in order to get replies to letters which had beon written some time previously. Captain Dobson, Assistant Director of Supplies and Transports, gave evidence that his staff was undermanned. Another clerk was necessary. When buying supplies on such a large scale it was a wrong principle to advertise fo«* tenders. As a matter of business't would pay to give the buying officer authority to buy privately, as an ordinary firm would do. The moment the Government advertised that it wanted some particular line in bulk, the price went up. Witness mentioned the case of a ship having been fitted up at Port Chalmers to carry 11C0 troops, at a cost of about £3000. The day tho work was finished word came that the ship was wanted, not for troops, but for horses, and the fittings had to be ripped out and stored. Witness expressed the opinion that it would pay the Government now to take over the transports at a first arranged price, if it had the power to do so, continuing to pay tho charters and then to stand the cost of refitting the ship at the end of the war.

Major Moller, Group Commander at Dunedin, figured it out that to call up 84.000 men had cost £13,000, including £10, GOO for nn urgent telegram to each man. The whole thing could have been done by one registered notice from group commanders at a cost of £1239.