DEFENCE EXPENDITURE COMMISSION.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 March 1918, Page 2

DEFENCE EXPENDITURE COMMISSION.

i j- | Chrislchurch, Last Night. Giving evidence before the Defence I Expenditure Commission to-da.v, Colonel ! Chaffer, officer commanding the Canterbury Military District said that Ihe Department had grown so widely, that it cni'M not carry on economically. There was a lot of pinpricking. Authorities for money were so hedged round with restrictions that one was afraid to spend it. lie was absolutely in charge of liipa Inland internment camp, and general headquarters did not interfere in any way. He was in favor of local camp* for the Second Division reservists for preliminary training purposes, and one L-rritorial training camp in each island, in charge of a regular staff. Every man should spend one month tor four years in camp, an:l the weekly parade should he done away with. Captain A. R. White, ordnance officer, said that the present conditions were quite satisfactory and he could suggest nothing to make things run more smoothly. Major R. R. Matthews, A.Q.M.G. said that his chief difliriil tv was in possessing no authority 'to spend money. He-gave instances of delays caused through headquarters, Wellington, holding up applications for authorities to incur expenditure, which were vexatious anil costly. He could not account for tho delays., unless it was that, they wi*e so frightfully busy in Wellington that things had been hung up. The chairman: So busy that they take on extra work. The commission adjourned till to-mor-row.