WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 June 1918, Page 4

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

DEFENCE EXPENDITURE. THE COMMISSION'S REPORT. (Special Correspondent). Wellington, June 12. It is understood that the report ol the War Expenditure Commission is now in the hands of the Government and that it will be made public in the course of a few days. Though the nature of the Commissioner's findings are known only to His Excellency the Governor and members of the Cabinet, the "intelligent anticipations" which get abroad on such occasions arc assuming an unusually confident tone. It is , that the report, after mentioning the very gTeat difficulties the Defence authorities had to overcome at the beginning of the war, will express general approval of the manner in which they have got through their task. It may have special words of commendation for the foresight, industry and devotion of the Minister of Defence and his immediate associates, and it may make comparisons, entirely favorable to New Zealand, Ibetween what has been accomplished here and what has been ac j complished ; elsewhere. : Probably its comments upon the mobilising, training and dispatch of reinforcements willbe reassuring. NOT PERFECTION. But it is unlikely the report will b&one long paean of praise. Sir Robert Anderson's searching examination of witnesses concerning the administration of what may be called the civil side of the Defence Department will have prepared the public for something different from that. The chairman of the -Commission wanted to know why there was so much khaki aJbout offices, manned purely by civilians with no military duties to perform; why the rank and pay and privileges of captains, majors or colonels were being thrust upon, gentlemen following their pre-war avocations, and, above all why a little plain 'business commonsense should not be employed on the business side of the Army. These things are pretty sure to be mentioned in the report, and with an emphasis that will compel attention from the authorities. This, at any rate, is the opinion of people acquainted with Sir Robert Anderson's methods. REINFORCEMENTS. The first ballot in Class C of the Second Division of Reservists-—married men with children—was completed yesterday, and the name 3 will be published on Wednesday of next week. Ten thousand names have been drawn and if the average of previous ballots /should be maintained these will represent between SOW* and 4000 fit men, probably sufficient with volunteers and the young men attaining twenty years of age, who will come into the Reserve automatically, to provide two reinforcements. The camps are now filling up rapidly, and with the diversion of transports to America it is possible Bome of the men drawn in this ballot will not foe required till after the expiry of the notice promised by the Minister. Sir James Allen is anxious, however, to have the successive drafts ready for dispatch at the arranged time, and towards this end tho machinery at Trentham and Feathers ton will be kept running at full speed. MAIL SERVICES. A good deal of dissatisfaction is being expressed by business men at the prospect of mail services throughout the country being considerably restricted oni account of the growing demands being made upon the Post Office. It is alleged that a vast amount cf the additional work has arisen out of the extravagant fashion in which the Government conducts its own business, loading the post office with mail matter of no special value to anyone, and that the authorities have not made the use they should have done of the labor available. Women and girls are doing excellent work in the post office, and from this' it is argued that many more members of their sex might be profitably employed there. Representations are being made to the authorities on the suibject, but probably they have come too late tql. even postpone the proposed restrictions