Defence Expenditure Commission.

Taihape Daily Times, 15 February 1918, Page 6

Defence Expenditure Commission.

-The Defence Expenditure Commission, comprising Brigadier-General Sir Robert Anderson, and Messrs. Chas. tihodes and P. Barr, continued its sitting in Auckland this morning.

Captain Mellows, assistant director of supplies and transport for the Auckland district, stated that the system submitted by Lieutenant Bodle varied very little from that in vogue at present. He was satisfied with the system, and thought it fairly effective, but admitted that if a man liked to be dishonest it might be open to error or fraud. There was also a possibility that this fraud might not be detected. In reply to a question from the President, he stated that possibly the introduction of Lieutenant Bodle's system would tend to the prevention of any manipulation of acounts. The President: Would you make any suggestions for improvements if you saw that they were necessary?—Yes, sir.

How long have you been in your present job? —About three years. And during that time how many suggestions have you made for improvements?—l do not know that I have made any.

You mean to tell us that you have held this position for three years and have not seen any room for improvement? —I have to obey orders, sir, and I have followed the instructions laid down.

The President: Then we come to the fact that you are first and foremost a soldier, and that, whether a system is good or bad, you would follow it?— Yes, I suppose so, sir; I have to obey orders.

The President: But do you not realiese that while this may be imperative on active service there may be room for suggestions when you are not? "What is running through my mind is that you should have been for three years running a system obviously defective without making some suggestion for its improvement.

Captain Mellows: I may-suggest that Lieut. Bodle made a recommendation to Wellington] The President: Do you know why Lieut Bodle was removed? —One of the reasons was that there was not enough work for him.

But the fact remains that you did not know what it cost to feed a man or a horse? —We could very soon get

it if we wanted it

How can you tell? —We can tell whether the rations are overdrawn or un-

derdrawn

Do you do that?—Yes.

And the cost? —No.

How can you possibly arrive at anything accurate by only knowing that this or that unit draws a little more or a little less than another, and not knowing the cost of the material? —As supply officers we are not asked to give this information.

Then it comes back to this —that you, being a soldier, would not make suggestions?—lf I saw that any suggestions were necessary I would make

them, sir.

Captain "W. V. Wisson, Assdstant-Quartermastcr-General for the Auckland district, said he had no power to expend money, nor had the 0.C.D., in reality, though normally he was allowed to, spend up to £25. He gave an instance where it was reported that a bath at one of the forts was leaking. Witness took action to have it put right, and wrote to Wellington, and asked that his action be confirmed. He received a reply asking what was cause of the leak and what would be-) the cost of repairs. He had to write to,> the department responsible for this i ■work, and was told it wuold cost 8/»' to repair the leak. This was forwarded, and he presumed that it would be paid. Had he not had the work done on> bis own responsibility the bath would. in all probability, still be leaking, ( Captain Wilson stated also that another instance was that of a packet of pins which was required when the first ballot came out. The pins needed cost 5/6 and as they were urgently required they were purchased locally. A great deal of correspondence took place with Wellington over the question. It was' stated that the pins should have been requisitioned from Wellington, instead of being purchased locally.

The President: What would you save in these pins if you had got them from Wellington? /Possibily 3d. But than there would be stamps and paper.

Continuing, witness stated that one of the replies from Wellington stated that urgctat purchases jof this kind could not be accepted, and that anything required of that nature must be requistioned for. The account was ultimately paid but a covering letter was sent stating that if any similar purchase occurred in future it would be reported to the general- offi«or commanding for disciplinary actio i There wan also an instance of a typewriter which needed repairing i n p a roa Regulations made it necessarv to call tenders for f he work. .There 'was no cuo in Paeroa who could do the work,

and the machine had to be sent to Auckland. Then tenders had to be invited and one firm refused to tender I stating that the job was not worth it Finally hi got the repairs done for 32/ Meantime the typewriter had been out of use for days, and a considerable quantity of work held up. Other instances of a similar nature

were given. The inquiry is proceeding.