ENGLISH EXTRACTS. THE ARMY. THE COMMISSARIAT.

New Zealander, Volume 8, Issue 608, 11 February 1852, Page 3

ENGLISH EXTRACTS. THE ARMY. THE COMMISSARIAT.

[To the Editor of tbe "Times."] Sir, — In justice to the officers of tho Commissariat, I trust you will grant space in your columns for a few : remarks upon the report of the Committee on Army and Ordnance Expenditure, as far as it relates to that department. It was an unfortunate circumstance that the military officers examined before ihe committee, were not favourably disposed towards the Commissariat, as I have reason to believe that the majority of the general officers, who have served in the Peninsula or in the colonies enteitain a strong' opinion of the necessity of maintaining an efficient Commissariat staff, in order to have a body of men of business habits, and thoioughly acquainted with the regulations, to couduct the supply of an aimy in the possible contingency of war. The committee h.is come to tbe conclusion that "no training- in time of peace will fit a commissaiy for bis duties in the field during war ;" by panty of reasoning we might arrive at the same result with regard to general and staff officers, and therefore advocate their being dispensed with ; for the duties perfoimed by Commissariat officers in tbe colonies (ends quite as much to fit them for being war commisssries as the experience acquired by general and staff officers (except in India) adapts them for properly conducting the operations of war. In time of peace, a commissariat officer acquires, besides habits of business and subordination, a practical knowledge of tbe organization of an army, tbe rates of pay, allowances, &c, to each rank, the mode of contracting for supplies, chartering vessels, negotiating bills, &c.j in short, he has experience, on a minor scale, of every kind of duty he may be called upon to undertake in time of war. In spite of these facts, and in opposition to the opinions of Commissaries-General Sir Randolph Routh, X.C.8., and Filder, C.8., men of distinguished ability, who hnve served both in the Peninsula and the colonies, the committee lias decided that it is useless to keep up a Comm'ssariat staff as a nucleus from which to extend the departments in case of war. The regimental system of contract is no doubt possible at home, and probably so at one or two stations abroad, but in most of the colonies it would be utterly impracticable. It is absurd to have a different arrangement in each colony ; and tbe system that is capable of universal application must needs be the best. All men of business will agree that persons who undeitake contracts on a large scale, and with ample capital, can afford to supply at much lower rates than others who, with smaller means, contract for short periods and limited quantities. If three or four regiments be quartered in the same town, the Cpmmissariat contract for the supply of the whole force for six months or a year will doubtless be taken at a cheaper rate than would bo the case were each regiment to make a separate agreement with the butcher and baker for its own supply for a month. Let the Commissariat, if necessary, be placed under the Secietary at War (that is, if we are not to have a Minister of War), but keep it up as a separate corps, as at present, and not destroy its efficiency by a separation of the finance and store duties. Abroad, the Commissaiiat could, with advantage to the public and with very httlp addition to the strength of the department at each station, perform all the Ordnance duties, but in that case, let the storekeepers andcleiksof the Ordnance be otherwise disposed of, and not be incorporated with the Commissariat. Tbe Commissariat is essentially a military department ; finance is but a branch of itg usefulness ; and an army without a good. Commissariat staff is not adapted for war. In a pecuniary point of view, no doubt tbe officers of the Commissariat would benefit by a tiansfer to tbe War-office, for, of late, while the positiou of every other department of the army lias been improved by mci eased pay for length of service, full pay retirements after 30 yeais' service, peivants' allowance, &c , tbe Commissariat has not been allowed to participate in any of these advantages, nor are its officers even permitted to settle in the colonies on tbe same favourable conditions as tbe members of the other branches of the service. I have the honour to be, sir, Your obedient servant, August 26. D. A. C. G.