PEACE ECONOMIES IN AUSTRALIA

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 32, 1 November 1919, Page 7

PEACE ECONOMIES IN AUSTRALIA

WASTEFUL ADMINISTRATION CONDEMNED

TRENCHANT INDICTMENT

The first progress report of the Commonwealth lioyal Commissim: appointed to report on the public expenditure of tho Commonwealth, with a view to elfcctincr economies, was tabled in the Federal Parliament some days r.go. It has been in the possession of the Government since Julv Jli. Tho report is one long record of inefficient Departmental administration. It gives striking examples of extravagance ar.o' mismanagement, and generally constitutes a most scathing indictment of Government methods of administration. A number of important recommendations are embodied in the report, some of which appear to lutvo been acted upon by the Government, in framing the Estimates for the current financial ' Tear. The Commission furnishing the report consisted of Messrs. K. Gibson (chairman'!. G. ft. Turton, and G. G. Kaldane. They stale:—

"An investigation of tho Defence Department's expenditure six months iiftov tho signing of tho r.rni'stice shows that there is little evidence of ihosi- considerable reductions within Australia, which if. is reasonable to oxpect slioulo' now be taking place, especially in activities which do not appear lo be further rcnuired for war purposes. . . . Evidence is not lacking that IJiero is a. desire in some Quarters to maintain th r - military spirit, and permanently saddle, the cnuntrv with an expenditure, for defence which would bo exceedingly onerous. We think that one of the most important benefits anticipated from 'lie war was that, as far as possible, an end would bo put. to the burden involved in prewar limo in military preparation. Rut it is otiilo certain I hat if the position in regard to defence is pot reviewed at the earliest possible moment, the annual expenditure of the Delcneo Department, after the war, will be some two or three million pounds greater than it was in lfllH-lflU. in addilion to a large increase in capital expenditure. The llirce chief factors causing this expenditure are:—fa) The increased numbers now coming under Hie universal I raining scheme: (b) Ilia proposal to provide an arsenal: (c) the proposal lo provide an aircraft service."

The Commission report's lliat from illformat ion which it lias boon able lo obtain it scorns doubtful whether the exnenaituro incurred in training junior cadets serves .any useful purpose from a military point of view. .It is strongly recommended (hat until.a definite policy can be laid down in rejiird to future racniirements. action should be taken to suspend all expenditure on military activities. other than are necessary for the demobilisation of troops, Hie protection of war material and equipment, buildings and factories, aim' the preservation of the nucleus of an expert staff, reprcsentinsr the various arms of the service, including arsenal and aircraft, and indispensable factories. 'Without expressin? any definite opinion as to the permanent. policy ill regard to defence, Hie Commission suggests that it is worth conKiileriner whether Australia's power of defenco would not he better strengthened by spending more of the money available for defenco in increasing the population.