Defence Expenditure.

Taihape Daily Times, 15 February 1918, Page 4

Defence Expenditure.

AUCKLAND EVDDENCE. J » —~.~. j The Defence Expenditure Comiws* sion took further evidence in Auclfij land yesterday morning after adjourning the previous afternoon at three o'clock to pay a visit to Narrow Neclc Camp. Sir Eobert Anderson presided, with Mr. Chas Rhodes, and Mr. P. Barr.

Hugh James Mulholland, regimental quarter-master-sergeant of tho R.N. Z.A,. said he had 20 years' experience and had been in his present position for two years. He submitted a copy of the financial instructions and scale of allowances for the year 1913. With: the exception of one or two minor points there had been no alterations since then, Immediately a man joined the R.IST.Z.A., he was put on probation for six months, when he would be eligible to sit for a second-class examination. If he passed he would receive Gd per day extra. At the end of twelve months he was allowed to go up for his first class examination, which, if he passed, entitled him to an extra shilling per day. Then at the end of five years, if his good conduct shtet was satisfactory, he received another 3d per clay and after 10 per day, after 15 years Od per day, and after 20 years Is per day. Under this system, after five years a man would be receiving 8/9 per day. In addition to this he received an allowance for uniform of 2s per month f If the man were out of barracks he received 2s per day ration allowance, but if he wore iu the barracks he received his rations.

Witness stated at this stage that he did not care to say anything further, \

as it might prejudice him with his superior officers or the department, and his evidence was adjourned till to-

morrow morning. Gregory George Norris stated he was a gunner in the E.N.Z.A. and had had sixteen years' experience. At present he was in charge of the Lady Roberts, but there was no one to exercise any supervision over the stores of her, to se whether they were suitable or otherwise. As an instance also he mentioned the fact that at the outbreak of was the boiler broke down. At that time it could have been repaired for £4OO, whereas the work was delayed for six months, and finally cost £BOO. Some .four months ago he had applied for rubbers for the ports, as they were leaking;, and only received them last ■ week. Because of the delay in forwarding the rubbers considerable damage was done. He also wanted a shil-lings-worth of twine to stop wwer , from coming through the deck < He ! had applied for this nine months ago, /and had not*received it yet. | . The boat also wanted painting, but he had been unable to get any paint. Because the boat was not docked and repainted, it cost more to run'her, as she badly wanted cleaning. Recently he had made an experiment, and taken the cost of a day's running. Then he had taken it on himself to get a pot of paint, dock the boat, and clean and paint her. The result was that whea he ran her again it cost considerably less than formerly to run her. He considered that the boat had depreciated £SOO more than she should have done because %f these delays and restrictions. There was very grave risk in running the boat as she was. At present if witness saw that anythingneeded doing he got into his overalls, i and did it, but it was not appreciated. | Still, if he did not do it it would not be done.

Captain Wilson, recalled stated that; repairs were being made at the wharf at one of the forts. To a layman it occurred that this work could be don© in a much better way than at present, and he would like to get an estimate from some outside source as to-, the cost of carrying out the work system on the whole, he said, was a fairly good one, but he thought a littie more discretion should be allowed responsible officers. Captain Smith, district paymaster stated that the system in force was a fairly good one, and he did not think' it needed altering. They were hamper* ed, however, by lack of proper accomt modation, and this impaired the efficiency of the staff to the extent of about 25 per cent. He thought an improvement could be made in soldiers' parcooks, and had suggested this about three years ago, but nothing had been done. Witness also mentioned the anomalies existing in some of the present rates of pay., A sergeant-major' on the permanent staff, he said, received lis per day. If things were slack and he joined the military police as I private he would receive 13/3 per day while if he joined the military police as a sergeant-major he would receive--15/3 per day. These amounts of course included allowances. * Captain McNair said he had been. Ordnance Officer in Trentham prac Z ally ever since the camn J? .»**« t4 e re . H : £S£s & tta gs were J3 be n « en% a thc & w WO„ d O'ioT, but ln many ~a ses > , a was out in ord ° »»s|pt baefc again f„ r to be «t