AUSTRALIA

Taranaki Daily News, 23 March 1918, Page 5

AUSTRALIA

RECRUITING MATTERS. Melbourne, March 22. Sir Samuel Griffiths, in his report on the recruiting position, says that 51,039 ' were withdrawn from the forces by death, returned, or as prisoners. Last |'years enlistments, necessary to replace the average wastage, 5-!fl0 monthly, in. I addition to 30,000, were required to meet, ! the present deficiency. The total enlistments to the end of } 1917 were 387,000, out of which «9,<>37 i were discharged, deserted, or died before j embarkation The total embarked was i 310,831. leaving 8136 still in training, j Mr. Hughes comments on the report: | "Oitr only hope is to use one division jas a depot division and endeavor to rai=e 5400 men monthly." The Federal Cabinet has empowered recruiting committees to compel picture theatre? t > exhibit, free of charge, approved films for 1 recruiting purposes and to permit the delivery of recruiting speeches during the exhibitions. THE DEFENCE DEPARTMENT Melbourne, March 22. The Government has appointed four prominent business men to administer the Defence Department. The final report of the Commission inquiring into the administration of the Defence Department states that the condition of the pay branches is chaoticNearly £49,000 is involved in "overpayments to allottees of soldiers, partly Hie outcome of fraud and partly the result of carelessness. Referring to the Howell Price frauds the report says that it appears, upon the representations of accused's father and in view of the war service rendered by accused'.* brother, the Government had decided not to proceed further. The commission urges action on all the charges. Referring to the methods of receiving and disbursing stores, the report says the position has become so hopeless in regard to adjusting discrepancies that it recommends that the deficiencies be wiped out and a clean start made. Tt I' urges the appointment of a directorgeneral of military accounts.