WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 January 1918, Page 8

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

THE TRAINING CAMPS | (From Our Special Correspondent.) Wellington, Jan. 8. The training camps are filling again, and before lite end of this week the work will be in full swing. This year, from the point of view of the training staff, will .bp less arduous than last year was. The reduction in the reinforcement quota means that, the number of men in camp will not be as large as it has been, and though the training tends continually to become more complex, the work of the staff will be reduced. The outlook from a recruiting point of view is thoroughly good. The first batch of the married men (class A) will not be required in camp before May, owing- to the number of First Division men still in hand, and there seems to be ho possibility of a shortage of recruits arising this year. TRANSFER OF CI MEN < | Over 400 men have so far been transferred from the CI camp to the genetal training camps. Other men who have been "made over" by the special training provided in the CI camp will be transferred at an early date. There is reason to believe that the CI men of the First Division will eventually produce enough fit recruits to fill three or four reinforcements on the present monthly quota. DEFENCE EXPENDITURE. Sir Robert Anderson, who has accepted the chairmanship of the Defence Expenditure Commission, is an Australian who has had experience of similar work in the Commonwealth. He is a BrigadierGeneral in the Australian forcp.s. It is not likely that the commission will be able to begin work for several weeks vet. The final report probably will not be available when Parliament meets in June, since the investigation of the Defence accounts and financial methods for the war period will be a lengthy and complicated business. THE MOTUIHr AFFAIR, The statement made by tlie Minister for Defence regarding the Motuihi affair confirms the impression that tlie Government is taking a serious view of the circumstances connected with the escape of the Oerman prisoners. liieut.-Colonel Hareourt Turner, who had charge of the internment camp on 'Motuihi Island, is to be court-raartialled, but he is not to be made tlie scape-goat for officers of higher rank wlio bad knowledge of the unsatisfactory condition of affairs existing at the island. The reference to the commandant of the forces is significant.