DEFENCE EXPENDITURE.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16168, 23 March 1918, Page 8

DEFENCE EXPENDITURE.

CHAOTIC MANAGEMENT IN AUSTRALIA. (By Cable—Press Asrociation.—Copyright.) MELBOURNE, 3larch 22. The fina t report- of the Commission which has been enquiring into the udmmistration of the Defence Department states that tho condition of th« pay branches is chaotic. Nearly £40,000 is involved in ovor-paynienis to allottees of soldiers. This is partly tho outcomc of fraud, and partiy the result of carelessness. Referring to tho Howell-Price irauds, tho report, says: It appears that, upon the representations of tho accused's father, and in view of the war service rendered liv accused s brother, tbo Government hasdecided not to procecd further. I'ho Commission urges action on all the charges. Refeiring to the methods of receiv'ng and disbursing stores, it says: _ Iho position has become so hopeless m regard to adjusting discrepancies that, tho Commission recommends '.hat the deficiencies be .wiped out, and a clean start made. It urges tho appointment of a Direc-tor-General of Military Accounts. ''HE RECRUITING PROBLEM. MELBOURNE. March L' 2. The Government has appointed four prominent business men to adminisrer tho Defenco Department. The Federal Cabinet has empowered the Recruiting Committees to compel tho picture theatres to exhibit free of charge approved films for purposes, and to permit the delivery of recruiting speeches during their exhibitions. Sir_ Samuel Griffith's report on the recruiting position states that 51,639 have been withdrawn from the Forces by deaths, men returning, and prisoners, last year.

The enlistments necessary to replace tho average wastage are 5400 monthly, in addition to 30,000 required to meet the present deficiency. The total enlistments to the end I f ' 1917 were 357.U00, out of which 68,937 were discharged, deserted, or died before embarkation. The total which embarked was 310,853, leaving 8136 still in training. Mr Hughes, commenting on the report, said: "Our only hope is to nse one of our divisions as a depot division. and endeavour to raise 5400 men monthly."