THE COST OF THE WAR.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1754, 1 September 1917, Page 3

THE COST OF THE WAR.

EXPENSE OF TROOPS AND TRANSPORTS.

A statement snowing the net expcmlihrre of the war up to March 31st last, has been presented to the House of Representatives by the Defence Minister. The statement is as follows; — Pay and allowances, £8,458,700. Transport of troops, including charter of steamers, meals, and fares of men travelling to join, freight, cartage, etc., £3,535,721. Payment to War Office for maintenance of troops in field, munitions, and transport, £4,500,000. Equipment, £1,913,934. Rations, £92,142. Expenses of camps, including concentrating, £488,580. Home defence, £200,552. Hospital ship Maheno, £200,052. Hospital ship Marama, £107,478. [Medical expenses ( including equipment for hospitals and investments), £338,198.. Clerical assistance, £100,344. Prisoners of war, £52,441. Purchase of horses, £209,408. Forage, £249,390. Advertising, printing, and office equipment, £08,044. - Canteens on transports, £12,002. Mechanical transport, £20,255., Postage and telegrams, £01,(570. Superannuation to Public Servants on service, £35,345. Travelling expenses and allowances, £9,200. Commission oE inquiry, £1,007. Allowances to wives of Imperial reservists residing in New Zealand, £5,099. Deposits for allotments through Post Offices in United Kingdom, £70,050. Discharged Soldiers’ Department, £3,424. Distribution of war news and casualties for New Zealand, £200,000. Freight on British and Belgian relief produce, £OSO. Granls to regimental lands, £l,099. ("{raids to soldiers’ hostels, £3,500. Half-cost reinsurance death benefits friendly socieiy members with forces, £7,422. Munitions and Supplies Department expenses, £4,033. Expenses of administration Military Service Act, £10,071. War bonus military stall, £0,494. National Eifieieney Board administrative expenses, £491. The list included many other minor items. The total net expenditure for war purposes was ns follows; — To December 31st, 1910, £14,557,177. From December 31s(, 1910, (o March 31st, 1017, £7,447,500. Grand total to March 31.-4, 1917, £22,004,083. There is expended under section 0 of the Public Revenues Amendment Act, 1915, the sum of £201,584 for relief purposes in Belgium and £IOO for similar purposes in New Zealand.