RED TAPE AND WASTE.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 February 1918, Page 7

RED TAPE AND WASTE.

DEFENCE EXPENDITURE, EVIDENCE BEFORE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY. Auckland, Feb. 13. The Defence Expenditure Commission resumed its inquiry to-day. ■Lieutenant Bodle, ex-Direetor of Supplies at Narrow Neck Camp, re-ealled, gave further evidence regarding receipt, issue, use and waste in reference to the rationing of troops. He submitted returns of the system in vogue 'before he took charge and of the system proposed by him, whereby there would be a check on dishonesty, or waste- Certain changes had been made in tho meantime, and he ,claimed that these had been made as the result of his representations. 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 he admitted that if a man liked to be dishonest it might be open to error or fraud. There was also the possibility that this fraud might not be detected. In reply to the president, he stated that possibly the introduction of Lieutenant Bodle's system would tend to the prevention of any manipulation of accounts. He would make suggestions for improvement if lie saw these were necessary. He had been in his present position for about three years, and did nknow that he had made any suggestionsHe hud to obey orders, and had followed the instructions laid down. The president: "Then we come to the fact that you are first and foremost a soldier, and that whether the system is good or bad you would follow it?" \Vitness: "Yes, T suppose so, sir. 1 have to obey orders." The president: "But do you not realise, while this may be imperative on active, service, there may be room for sug-1 gestioris when you are not? What is running through my mind is that you should have lieen for three years running a system obviously defective without making some suggestions for its improvement." Captain MellowB: "I may suggest that Lieutenant Bodle made a recommendation to Wellington " The president: "Do you know why Lieutenant Bodle was removed?"—' of the reasons was that there was not enough work for him." "But the fact remains, you did not know what it cost to feed man or horse?"—"We could very soon get it if we wanted it." "How can you tell?"—"We can tell whether rations are overdrawn or underdrawn." "Do you do that?"—" Yes." "And 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 coat of material ?"—"As supply officers, we. are not asked to give this information.'-' Captain W V. Wilson, assistant Quar-termaster-General, Auckland, gave instances of red tape in the matter of minor supplies, The inquiry was adjourned, and the Commission visited Narrow Neck Camp.