OVERLAPPING AND RED TAPE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 140, 2 March 1918, Page 6

OVERLAPPING AND RED TAPE

EVIDENCE : AT . THE- DEFENCE EXPENDITURE COMMISSION. By Telegraph—Press Association. .• Christohurch, March 1." The Defence Expenditure Commission, continued its sitting to-day.-. . Captain Robertson, Assistant Adju-tant-General of the Canterbury District, detailed the work of his Department. He complained that too many orders were' issued, especially with regard to recruiting (natters,, and urges decentralisation. Under the present) conditions it was difficult to apportion the blame for duplications and delects. If a change was made in the direction of recruiting, 75 per ,cent. of the General"Staff could be done without. The' Department was bound down by too many'regulations, and the staffs were* given' no credit for the exercise of brain power. ■Everything big was done in a sterotyped manner, and officers were disciplined—to roake suggestions was to be. turned down.

Major Conway, Group Commnnder, Christchurch, gave evidence of overlapping, and suggested that ■ insufficient discretion was allowed, by ■ the 'Wellington'office; • ; ••... Major W.C. Morrison, General; Staff .Officer, said that in his opinion New Zealand was not getting anything like value from the Territorial Force for the money spont on it. Through various causes,' one-third of. the value of the training was lost.. Hβ expounded- a'method by.which a.trained force would, emerge from the ,- ' Territories each year. He favoured district camps. Lieutenant A. G. M'Donald, Assist-ant-Director of Supplies v and Transport, said he'thought more reciprocity should obtain between supply officers in various districts. ; When lie saw a likelihood of a scarcity-of carbide he sent advice'to■■Wellington;- The price then -was £30 per ton. "When a reply to his advice came :it had risen to £60pert6v ; ■■ ' ■■' •'■ " ' Other evidence given referred chiefly to the delay at Headquarters'in dealing with' requisitioning,- some of which were months old. :