DEFENCE EXPENDITURE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 270, 3 August 1918, Page 6

DEFENCE EXPENDITURE

"In all asen'liah the Administration has succeeded." This is the verdict of the Royal Commission on Defence Department Expenditure; but an examination of .the report makes it quite clear that it would bo an error to regard this verdict as equivalent to an absolute and unqualified acquittal. The Commissioners certainly- do not intend to create the impression that no mistakes have been made by the Department, or that full value has been received for every penny it has spent. They do not mean that the Department's business organisation and methods have been flawless. As a matter of fact they draw attention to many ilaws. They do not declare that all the allegations of waste, extravagance,' and inefficiency have, been entirely disproved. The report shows that there have been extravagance and waste, an'l that a high standard of efficiency' has not always, been maintained. When "the Commissioners-state that "in all essentials the Administration has succeeded," it must not bo assumed that the shortcomings on which they have laid their fingers are of comparatively small importance. Some of those shortcomings have been very costly, and 'others have caused a good deal of unnecessary friction and dissatisfaction. Sir Robert Andersox, who conducted the inquiry, is not a soldier. Ho is a capable business man, and. ho sees things from the business* point of view. The report indicates that ho sometimes finds it difficult to understand the workings of the official and military mind, which occasionally seems so'perverse in its disregard of the, dictates , of reason and common sense. The Commissioners express the general opinion of the community when thcj* refer to the slavish adherence to British Army _ methods which characterises our military system. Scrupulous attention is paid to. the letter of the British military rules and regulations, while not sufficient intelligence has been displayed in understanding their spirit and adapting them to our own needs and circumstances. The letter kills; the spirit gives life. .Our military authorities do-not, seem to. have adequately realised that "in newer countries methods aro more direct, and. a system should bo evolved to suit our local conditions." Their actions and idi-as-at times'give one the impression that they arc quite : 'unaware of-' "iiho vast changes that have taken and are still taking place in English Army methods." This means that they arc'not learning the lessons of expedience ae,rapidly as* they could and shoulH. Tho King's Regulations may .be as authoritative as Holy Writ, but tbcro is ample scope for the exorcise of individual intelligence in their interpretation and application. The limited space at our disposal makes it quite impossible to comment on tho reportrin detail. It is full of interesting facts-and opinions. We can assure our readers that they will not find it dul.i, Sir Roiiert Anderson and his colleagues have a refreshing way of driving home their points with .acute observations expressed in language "understanded of the people." They know how to be ironical without Ming bitter, and arc able to sec tho humorous side of things. In discussing the absorbing question whether a clerk in the Defence Department should wear uniform they draw attention to the connection between the terms "military" and '■millinery," and even venture to remark that "it is immaterial to a good clerk's value whether or not his top button is-open, or whether he can, and does, salute certain persons senior to him, beginning at an arbitrary lino of remuneration or rank." But problems of this kind are not of first-class importance, though the efficiency, of the Department largely depends upon rational discipline and intelligent administration. The cumulative effect of comparatively small things is very great. It is, therefore, tile, duty of the Government to give full consideration to the many valuable suggestions contained in the 'report 1 hat this will be done is promised' by the .Minister of Defence in-a '■memorandum in .which he states that.4 conference of' District Commanders and other officers will meet without delay to consider how the suggestions c<iii be applied to secure greater , efficiency and economy .-Everything possible should bo done .to secure tho. best results from "the Defence' Department expenditure; out the solid fact remains that the Department has on the whole done .its .work remarkably well. The re.iereiices to its shortcomings should not be allowed, to obscure the Commissioners' assurance that "in'all imenliah the Administration has .succeeded." An expenditure of 4540,000,000 "and no frauds. ,. This -is high praise. "An army of 100,000 men excellently and fully equipped, -uid carried to the other end of the world. ,. This is the main test of efficiency, and it is as gratifying to the people of New Zealand as it must be-to the Minister ov Defence and all those who have assisted him in various capacities, high or humbic, in tho. performance of this great task. Sin. James Allen's leadership has been subjected to severe criticism, but.all fair-minded , people must admit .tint, Ihiuigh he mayhave made mistakes in non-essen-tials, in tho big essential things he has succeeded. Ho has every right to bo. proud of his fine achievement.