MILITARY SUPPLIES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 42, 13 November 1917, Page 6

MILITARY SUPPLIES

CONTRACTS.FOR RENEWAL,

The _ operations of tho Department of Munitions and Supplies were briefly reviewed in Auckland on Friday by tho Hon. Arthur AI. Myers, Minister in charge. He stated that current contracts expired at the end of this year, and he w:as now going into tho matter of arranging for further contracts for the ensuing year. In view of the shortage of stocks in many lines it was more difficult than ever to obtain full requirement?. He had looked ahead as far as . possible, however, and had already placed orders for those lines where difficulty was anticipated in obtaining sufficient supplies.. T*ho fact that there had been no complaints regarding the food supplied to the various camps, and that the clothing and boots supplied had apparently given entire satisfaction, showed conclusively that his Department had been able to successfully carry out the Government's desire that only the best should be obtained for the soldiers of the Dominion. Ever since he had found it necessary to inflict substantial fines in regard to breaches of contract the contractors, generally speaking, had faithfully discharged their obligations in connection with the carrying out of the specifications for various lines.

The Minister went on to say that since the inception of the Munitions and Supplies Department orders to the value of had been spent by his direction in stores and supplies for military purposes, as follow:—Clothing, .£1,575,(100; footwear, .£175,000; hardware, ,676,000; food, I'W7,000; forage, J.M9.000; drugs, .£15,000; bedding, ,£157,000; miscellaneous. .£106,000.

The total number of articles represented by the orders placed during tlie period above mentioned amounted to approximately' 67,000,000. Included in this number were:—Boots, 160,000; shoes, 76,000; soclcs, 241,000; jerseys, S3,000; underpants, 170,000: undershirts, 176,000; tunics, '13{,000; trousers, 930,000; blankets, 211,000; cholera belts, 91,000; greatcoats, 8, r i,000; pantaloons, 26,000; puttees, 140,000; hats, 118,000; shirts, 185,000.