THE COST OF WAR.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 November 1917, Page 7

THE COST OF WAR.

STATEMENT OP EXPENDITUBE. £20,840,475 TO SEPTEMBER 30, 1917. • The following is a statement of expenditiira from the beginning of the war to September 30, 1917 (omitting shillings and pence): Advertising, printing, office equipment, etc., £80,631. Allowances to wives of Imperial soldiers and reservists and members of the motor'boat patrol residing in New Zealand, £7439. Camps—expenses of (including concentrating), £542,500, Canteens on transports, £13,545. Clerical assistance, £I49,GGG. Commissions ol' inquiry, £IOG7. Deposits of allotments paid through Post Ollices in the United Kingdom, £117,050. I.'isi-hiirgud .Soldiers Information De-! parluicnt, expenses, £'1758. Distribution of war news and casualty lists in New Zealand, £2G0,000, Donations refunded and transferred, £11G». Equipment (including purchase of Loots, clothing, ij-.s. wagons, ammunition, carts, etc.), £2,323,2-20. Forage, £231,21)1). Freight on Great Britain and Belgian relief produce, £650. Grants to regimental funds, £3090. Grants to soldiers' liostels (London ,£O7BO, New Zealand £1.370), 11..159. I Half cost of reinsurance of death benefits of members of Friendly Societies serving with tile Expeditionary Force, £7422.

Home defence (forts, harbor patrols, examination of steamers, guarding cables, wireless stations, railway picquets, censors), £270,797. Hospital ship Mabeno, £259.087.

Hospital ship Marama, £240,89 G. Maintenance of indigent oncmv subjects in Xew Zealand, £lO2. Mechanical transport (includingmotorcars, bicycles, oil for motors, etc.), £22,• 751."

Medical (including fees, equipment for hospitals, field hospitals, and ambulances, surgical instruments, comforts, et.), e i-j i .42 4 Military Service Act: Expenses of administration, including recruiting, military service, and medical boards, £71,175. National Efficiency Board: Administrative expenses, £4373. . New Zealand Munitions and Supplies Department', £7376. Pay anil allowantfes, £11,308.902. Per capita payment:; to War Office for maintenance of New Zealand troops in the field, ammunition, extra transport, etc., £4,500,000. Postage, telegrams, telephones (including preparing war news cablegrams for dispatch to Now Zealand from the United Kingdom, and cable charges thereon), £70.023. Prisoners of war, £65,825 Purchase of horses and expenses incidental thereto. £210.20!). Rations, £1,113,347. ' Superannuation paid by Government on liehalf of Civil Servants serving with Expeditionary Forces, £54,047 Transport of troops (including charter of steamers : meals and fares of men travelling to join; freight, cartage, etc.), ,£4,190,384. Travelling expenses and allowances, £OB4B. War bonus of military staff, £(1523, Administration -Samoa —sundry expenses recoverable from Samoan Administration, £l3. Financial Assistance Board expenses, £4020. The total net expenditure up to September 30, 1917, was £21V,fiß730. The expenditure under Section 6 of the Public Revenues Act Amendment Act, 101,1. Relief purposes—Belgium, £211,584; New Zealand, £IOO, Appropriation Act, 1915, Section 25, £20,00(1. Grand total, £26,840,475. SUMMARY. Total expenditure to June 30, 1917, £23.921.05 i). Expenditure for <nvrt spending September 30, 1917, £9 924,755. Imprests outstanding at September 30, 1917: In New Zealand, £1,242 035; in London, £2,880,284. . No claim has been received from the War Office for maintenance at the ralint (.'Ii'iO.IVOO per month, and the outlaniling liability at this rate from April, 1917. amounting to £3.900,000, , not included in the return. It does,, however, include regular rem;!lances of £05.000 per month for miscellaneous charaes, increased to £130,000 per month from September 1, 1917.