DEFENCE EXPENDITURE INQUIRY
— $ rALLEGATIONS OF WASTE. By Telegraph.—Preee Association.
Dunedin, March 11
Giving evidence before the Defence Expenditure Commission, Captain Myers, Assistant Adjutant-General, Otago District, thought that money could be saved in regard to the method or calling up reserves. It would simplify procedure and be less expense if tho calling up notice was sent by the group commander. Witness suggested that it would save money and time if more discretion were granted the district headquarters in regard to granting leave to men coming from camp. Sometimes five or six telegrams had to be sent to Wellington in ordor to get replies to letters which had been forwarded some time previously. Captain Dobson, Assistant Director of Supplies and Transports, gave evidence that his staff was undermanned. Another clerk was necessary. When buying supplies on such a large scale it was a wrong principle to advertise for tenders. As a matter of business it would pay to give the buying officer authority to buy privately, as an ordinary firm would do. The moment the Government advertised that it wanted some particular line in bulk tho price wont up. Witness mentioned the case of a ship having been fitted up at Port Chalmers to carry 1100 troops. It cost about £3000, and the day the work was finished word came that the ship was not wanted for troops, but for horses, and the fittings had to be ripped out and stored. In witness's opinion it would pay even now to take over the transports at the first arranged price if there was power to do ro, instead of continuing to pay for charters and then stand tho cost of refitting the ships at tho end of the war.
Major Moller, group commander at Dunedin, figured out that to call up 4000 men had cost £13,000, including £10,600 for an urgent telegram sent to each man. The whole thing could be done by one registered notice from the group commanders at a cost of £1239.
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Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 148, 12 March 1918, Page 6
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332DEFENCE EXPENDITURE INQUIRY Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 148, 12 March 1918, Page 6
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