EMPIRE DEFENCE FUND

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2375, 3 February 1915, Page 6

EMPIRE DEFENCE FUND

GENEROUS GIFTS

MINISTERIAL APPRECIATION

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Dunedin, February 2. The Hon. James Allen, Defence Minister, spoke appreciatively, in the course of an interview to-day, regarding the ready and generous manner in which all classes of the community had contributed to most of the funds, and had given material to assist in the splendid uquipmeut of the Expeditionary Forces. He said that, apart altogether from local movements, the people of Now Zealand had contributed directly to the Umpire Defence Fund, which is administered by the Government, close on £160,000. A great deal of the money had been earmarked for the purposes specified by the donors, but a considerable amount had been given without *ny special request as to its allocation. Much of this amount- has not yet been allocated, and until that has been done it will be impossible for the Minister to submit complete details. Questioned as to New Zealand's expenditure in conncction with the war, Mr. Allen replied that it would he very misleading to make any definite statement at present. The expenditure had certainly been heavy, but the results had been highly satisfactory. Wellequipped forces had been sent upon Imperial enterprises, and strong reinforcements were under training tor service. The 2nd Reinforcements had > reached their port of disembarkation, with men and horses in good condition. It had been previously estimated that our war expenditure would total £2,000,000 by the end of the financial year, and the present position was such as to confirm that opinion. But satisfactory arrangements had been made for finance, and there was no difficulty in the way of the Dominion continuing to forward reinforcements to the Main Force at the front. Some surprise had been occasioned by a rather unexpected demand for artillery, field ; engineers, and army service corps. The reason was this: Lord Kitchener desired to establish two serviceable divisions from Now Zealand, Australia, and other troops, and had asked if New Zealand _ could supply something more than originally sought, in order to create those divisions. The Government had immediately agreed to do everything possible to serve Lord Kitchener's requirements. That was why New Zealand was sending two additional batteries of artillery, another company of field engineers, and another company of army service corps for service wherever required by the Imperial authorities.

In respect of the usual Territorial camps in Now Zealand this year, these, tho Minister explained, will be on a more modest scale than has hitherto been the practice. Training will be of an elementary nature, but thorough. As to tho question of regulations dealing with refractory soldiers on active ton-ice, the Minister pointed out that our troops were now absolutely under .the British Army Act and regulations, and tho Commandant had exactly j the same powers as those, held and exercised by British Generals.