WASTE SCANDAL.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 August 1919, Page 4

WASTE SCANDAL.

(By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) I AUSTIIALIAN & N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION]

(Received this day at 9.20 a.m.) LONDON, Aug. 29.

Public anger at Governmontt extravagances is growing. The press campaign continues unabated disclosing fresh examples of waste daily. The papers give a lengthy description of the wilderness of waggons, and gun carriages peacefully rotting, which the military is carefully guarding. The “Morning Post” details a box scandal, and points out that although soldiers in France wore strictly ordered to preserve and. return ammunition boxes, the Ministry of Munitions has no adequate system of checking, consequently twelve million sterling worth of boxes have gone adrift. Many were stolen and others destroyed and many were sold at ridiculous prices. In some cases contractors had the full issue of boxes for which they later received payment. The Ministry did not attempt to collect boxes from the contractors dumps when the armistice was signed and continued to manufacture boxes after signing.

The newspapers quote instances of expensive muddles in selling boxes without calling for tenders. Mr Clyne’s poopoohetl Hon. Lloyd George’s alarmife't letter which he says will possibly result in a few thousand dismissals. decisions are needed. Government must try to save hundreds of millions. It, rc " quires a daily shock to keep the Commoners awake. The Navy Army and Air Force estimates are approaching six hundred millions and must he tackled, and the expensive policy in Ireland and Russia must he changed. Mr Clvnes urges Parliament to.he summoned in the beginning instead of .the end of October. Mr Malone, a Coalition Commoner demands that Liberals leave the Coalition,* unless a drastic policy of retrenchment i* adopted.