DEFENCE EXPENDITURE.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16160, 14 March 1918, Page 7

DEFENCE EXPENDITURE.

EVIDENCE AT DUNEDIN. j I j Ai.-OCIATION" TrXEGIIAI!.) DUNEDIN. March 13. tt .tore IJeun.o Expenditure «-oia- f :nifc;io.'i Frank Mitchell, t[leaknom I:is experience as honorary si'iTotuiy of the Ota, r :o Patriotic and i Welfare .Association, before his a;M> ji.itnjozit as a paid secretary, stated tiiut sj;;u s were bought bv commercial rwu in. Lid a paii, as against 8s lid pn:d l:y inc.iTiiiit.ny, and enaff at marKcr. [jiioc.-:, as against a higher quotation 1.0 tiie military authorities. He suggested that the buying should be d;.:;e 1./ expert commercial men. who should u* appointed by a local commercial cont.ioi.er. Orders were too much centia'ised in Wellington, whic-i tended t,> prices being arranged there. Wellington firms were wording at overtime rates, owing to ccntiaii.sation of orders, and if other centres got their share, possibly this might be minimised. Reorganisation 01 staffs would cut down expense and distribute the woik. "While witne;-s'r personal experience related to the beginning of the war, he ltr.d heard of waste stated now to be, going on, i:artie ilariy in regard to hospital ships. The chairman remarked that many of tii.' made by anonymous correspondents in letters to the newspapers, were widely apart from facts. Some most extraordinary statements had b2<--n made about hospital ships. Mr Mi toll oil said that he could, if requested to do so, take Mr Barr to a man who would give hint information confidentially. The chairman paid that the Commission vould follow up the suggestion made. Cap Lai 11 Free, military representative on the Military Service Board, said some grotm commanders; might fill thc> position of military representative. Saul Solomon, chairman oi' the subcommittee of the Soldiers' and Dependants' Welfare Association, expressed the opinion that through double-banking a very large sum of nionev was spent which could be saved. On 'tis discharge a sold'er received two suits of uniform and 30s towards his civilian clothes. Representations had been made to tho Minister that two suits of uniform wore unnecessary, but nothing had been done so far. Only the previous day over £100 had been voted for civilian clothes for over thirty solcliors. He thought £5000 a year was being spent in Dunedin on ' this matter, and probably £50,C00 for New Zealand. Mr Solomon also referred to the delay in granting pensions after a soldier was discharged, ■with the result that financial assistance had to bo granted. As the result of delay in the payment of the wife's separation allowance, probably £100, COO n year had to b9 paid by the patriotic societies. Dr. Falconer, Assistant Director of Medical Services, said ho was now empowered to decide whether re-examina-tion of reservists was necessary. This would cut out a certain amount of expense.

(SPECIAL TO "THE PRESS.")

DUNEDIN, March 13. At to-day's sitting_ of the Defence Expenditure Commission, tho chairman said the Commission had tried by advertising to get witnesses, but few came, although the jiublic said many things. If necessary, a witness was heard in private. The only conclusion one could arrive at was tliat the statements in circulation were not well founded, or that the people who woro making tnem lacked moral These persons should either give evidence whilst tho opportunity offered, or "for ever after hold their peace."