Defence Expenditure.

Taihape Daily Times, 14 February 1918, Page 3

Defence Expenditure.

o COMMISSION OF INQUIRY. COMMANDING OFFICERS, HAMPERED BY RESTRICTIONS. FAULTY ACCOUNT SYSTEMS.

The Defence Expenditure Commission, comprising Brigadier-General Sir Robert Anderson, of Australia, Mr. Charles Rhodes, of Auckland, and Mr. p B'arr, of Dunedin resumed its sitting in Auckland this morning.

Colonel G. J. Smith, in temporary command of the Auckland District in the absence of Colonel Patterson, outlined roughly the duties of the various staff-officers, who were responsible to the 0.C.D., He had been here only about a month, but the first thing that struck him was the inadequacy of the accommodation provided for the staff at the Defence offices. The rooms were crowded, and badly ventilated The light was bad. and in his opinion it was impossible to get good results from these conditions. Economy was onty economy when it did not interfere with efficiency. He looked at it from the view-point of an employer, and as such ho would not care to employ a staff under the present conditions at the Defence offices. In fact, he was of the opinion that he would not be allowed to do it. The President: Are your offices subject to inspection as other offices?—l do not think so; at least, I have never seen an inspector. TOO MANY QUERIES. Continuing, he stated that the war came as a surprise to everyone, and it was generally believed that it would be over in twelve months. They had got into the condition of doing the best they could under the circumstances, and were still carrying on in that way, He suggested that authority should be given the 0.C.D., to expend a greater sum without reference to hedaquarters than at present. Under the present system the O.C.D. had authority to expend £25, but this was subject to so many restrictions that in reality it was practically no authority at all. There were too many queries, and officers did not care to take Jtliq responsibility -of expending the money.

The President: If you had a' leak in the room and the rain came in unexpectedly, would you have the authority to repair it?—-Well, I should do it, sir; but there would probably be a query about it.