DEFENCE EXPENDITURE.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 August 1918, Page 7

DEFENCE EXPENDITURE.

THE COMMISSION'S REPORT. ■ e_... ON THE WHOLE FAVORABLE. Tlio report and recommendations made by the 'Royal Commission on Defence Department Expenditure, 1910, covers some 'US pages, and is accompanied by a memorandum.from the Minister of Defence, intimating that "the Government appreciates very much the suggestions and recommendations,'' which ''will he given every consideration, and. .where not already in operation will, ,be adopted if found economical and applicable in 'principle."' 'Eke: report • exhaustively reviews the evidence taken: at tho various centres, ■and concludes with the.following recommendations,' Which .begin with an expression of opinion that "the organisation of •the Defence Department on its admini?•trative side is faulty," and then proceeds:.—. Tho trouble has come about through ■the casual addition of branches neeessh tated by the Department's growing activities and requirements, without a guiding, hand to economically fit them in. The motive was, as herein explained, really economy, and 'the'reluctance to create a new office which would necessarily command a f&dy liberal salary. Parliament and "tho man in tho street" are rather to blame for this timidity; : for the tendency of a democratic community is to think that new appointments carrying' a salary of £'looo a year or more are unnecessary or extravagant. And thus it comes to pass that, while ■the lower ranks in the Public Service are generally well paid, oiie wonders ait the high type and ability of many men occupying important and responsible positions, in the Public Service receiving only from .£SOO to £IOOO a year, which salaries, when estimates are under discussion in Parliament, are often made to appear princely, but which are in reality less than tho rates ruling outside for first-class men. Tho faet is that the appointment of such a man would have saved in every week the yearly salary of himself and his necessary staff. There are two branches in a. Military Force "Training" and "Administration." A soldier naked comes under "Training," which should drill him, exercise him, and, when necessary, discipline him; hut when he needs clothing, food, arms, equipment, pay, transport, or other such attention, he comes under "Administration"; and there shoudl be a clear I line of demarcation.

COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATIONS.

Our recommendation is that there be appointed a General Officer in Charge of Administration, under whom will come all administrative branches:—

(a) Those hitherto under the Quarter-master-GeneraJ—-Equipment and Ordnance Stores, Financial Services Movements and Quartering Supplies and Transport Construction and Maintenance and Veterinary Services. (b) The Administrative P.raneiies now under tho Adjutant-General—such as Organisation, Recruiting, Base Records, Personal Services—excepting such items as deal with discipline and purely military detail, wh idi should be transferred to the Chief of the General Staff. We can lind no room in tho Defence Department for an Adjutant-General's Branch; but in saying this we wish it to be understood that no reflection is intended on the Adjutant-General, who has "scorned deligiite and lived laborious days" since the war commenced, and has done a huge amount of war work, to the total neglect of his private business. If the Government see 3 fit to adopt these recommendations and split up the Adjut-ant-General's Branch, and the present occupant of that office is prepared to do further military service, ample opportunity awaits him elsewhere for his ability and great zeal. The following recommendations made throughout the report can safely he i ried out:— ." ■ , | .-.-y.ul ■.-•..

Audit: Establish a branch in London. Appoint a representative in each military district.

Gimps: Change brigade system for battalion system- Reduce establishments. Medical Examination Boards: Reduce lay staff of each to three persons. Cazetto names of men re-classified as C2, giving reasons. "Pay and Allowances: Payment of allotments, separation allowances, etc., should be lunar, or for one-twelfth of a year, instead of by calendar month. Abolish groomago allowance. Abolish professional pay m certain cases. Abolish field-service allowances in standing camps. Establish camp allowance and field allowance on flat, rate. Inei'case pay of lieutenants on staff work in New Zealand. Increase travelling allowance of captains and lieutenants. Reduce fees of chairman of Military Service Boards. Stores: Brand clothing and equipment to prevent pilfering. Tjet there be no nervousness about departing from customs obviously faulty. The excuse that "grandfather did if is very leaky nowadays. THE ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT. In addition, we mate tho following suggestions for the guidance of the occupant of the new post of General Officer in Charge of Administration: —■ (a) The branches of Recruiting and Personal Services now employ 232 and 2-2 people respectively—in all 254- If that shrewd organiser, the Government Statistician (Mr. Malcolm Eraser), could be prevailed upon to take over services, we are quite sure he would do them more efficiently than at present, with li>o, as a minimum—probably 200 — less hands. Tn other words, to make our position plain, as we arc aware of the full siffnillcunte of what we are rectunmending,!:if the Government Statistician were given, hj! the very most, 100 extra staff, he could perform- more efficiently the -work now d'one by the 254' referred to above. (b.), possible,, alii men., irrespective, of -raaik,. employed! on. purely- odiniinistrati,v« 'work- sti»uld.' beiin nvufiti. Of course, iru camps; uwif'orniris. necessary. ' ■ Quite, an. erroneous- impressionr is con-V.eyedi'toL-the,public- by ■'sceings'so many men unnecessarily-iw uniform. 'PEKE. - Minenclatuie should bo-i ;siin|)fiiif&il.. i&SßjaSijf sliaulid? ' ''tse.-alwl/S'hod,, &n-i-eonmiou3sci»e>a,nd! un- ' 'denStandablci names su&itifuted. or: iMJamcer,, wo-can -exjiirfficit; no meaning; ifrDm; th.es- ysonfs; the title- ■'. or "Axljuitiint- • . feneral-" T6e? , meat and Onfteaiice^SJt'oirsss*"' 5 *"' sfoouM be o£_Aa3my/ Sltwiesf'

have, nothing whatever to do with, is ordnance ; but his scope should he extended to embrace engineers' stores, medical supplies, and also forage and food, now looked after by an officer called "Director of Supplies and Transport." The 'Director of Personal Services" is simply a military legal adviser. The principal duty of the "Director of Movements and Quartering" is transports, which could he hotter left to an expert than to one who admitted that he knew nothing whatever about ships and charters until he assumed this job. As to (he true inward significance of the term "Director of Organisation," we have already admitted our ignorance. Wo nood hardly say that the high-sounding titles of "Deputy-Director' and "Assistant Director" should he abolished. The suspicion is that a very fino title like that commands, even sympathetically, more remuneration than a "common or garden" variety of chief clerk. The term /•'Chief Paymaster" certainly seems more appropriate than ''Director of Financial Services." It is an important .position, and will he more 90 if the War Expenses Division is added to it"A SOUND AND' CAPABLE MAN."

(d) Tho present Director of Equipment' and Ordnanco Stores will ho the righthand man of the new Administrator, and his status and emolument should be liberally increased. We found him to be a sound and capable) man, for whom responsibility had no terrors- Ho had not only a thorough mastery of the principles and details of his work, hut was shrewd in his estimate of the value of his subordinates. After a long and viorgous cross-examination, we were so impressed with hi s knowledge of service conditions, especially the administrative side, that we invited Mm to send us any suggestions that might occur to him aa tho result of his examination; and we feel that we cannot do better than quote what we regard a's a very able opinion on the points bearing on this report. (e) Extreme care should he exercised in the making of all appointments and promotions. It would be better that a board should make the necessary representations to the Minister, and it ia.most desirable- that the Defence employees should have close relationship in dutj* and emolument to the members of the Public Service. For this reason any such board should include the Public Service Commissioner. A board of this nature would be the means of preventing, the appointment of unqualified persons or recommendations prompted by personal liking or desire to secure employment for a particular individual, rather than by j regard for the interests of the State. (f) Administrative officers should be changed round occasionaly, as long residence in a particular centre does not produce the best results, nor that standard of uniformity which is necessary to a sound system of administration. The relation of the different branches of administration, and betwen the departments of training and administration, should be that of friends and helpers. Conference should he encouraged, and unnecessary correspondence frowned upon. (g) Too much stress is placed upon the value of courts and boards. They seem to afford an indifferent check; and (he most remarkable Vature about their "findings" is the uniformity with which they agree that "the value of same is a fair charge upon the public," or that "the public should bear the loss." (h)'Definite establishments should ho provided for all units, and be fixed by Order-'m-Couneil, and there should bo no alteration without reference to the Soard charged with appointments. Wo have been surprised at the lack, or looseness,' of establishments. (i) It should be impressed upon officers entrusted with the expenditure of public moneys that they are trustees, and that they are subject to penalties for any breach of trust. COMBING OUT REQUIRED. (j) We specially urge that there should be a stern combing out of the Defence Department, and a careful medical examination of all males of military age, so that it may be ascertained exactly' how many "A class" men are employed therein—at General Headquarters, in districts, or in camps—'and why they cannot be spared to go to the front- We are glad to say have come across exceedingly, few men in the Department who could be classed as shirkers; but there are "fit" men anxious and willing to go, and the time seems to have arrived when there must be sufficient war-worn men to replace "fit" men in the foTees here. At. regular intervals, say, of six months, this comhing-cut should continue, so that no suspicion can arise in (1)0 minus of the public that the Defence Department is falling short in its duty in this respect. NO EVIDENCE OF FRAUD. In this connection it is fair to say that we have come across no evidence, although we carefully sought it, of the Minister of Defence, directly or indirectly, using tho influence of his high office to grant or obtain exemption for men from active service. We also made diligent inquiry as to what relatives, or connections, if any, the Minister had in the Department. We found only one, a getlenian connected by marriage, doing important work, attending daily the prescribed hours, but enjoying no military rank, and drawing neither pay, emolument, nor allowance of any kind. As a matter of fact, we came across no case of any Minister of tho Crown having friends or relatives in comfortable or lucrative positions in connection with war activities; and if there are any they must be serving in a humble capacity. • (k) We are confident that the extension of the principle of amalgamation of the administrative positions should also take place in connection with the district commands, and thai it will result in a large saving without any loss of efficiency. A SECRETARY FOR DEFENCE. An experienced witness suggested that a Secretary for Defence should be appointed at, say, £7OO a year, whose function would 'lie to control the civil portions of administration, and act a.3 medium of communication between mditary authorities and the Minister. But we fear that such an appointment •,would, fall short, as what is wanted is a firstclass man of experience, who will be :marte responsible and accountable to the iMinister for- Use quality and result of his iwork. Too- much would depend on the Itype of man. chosen to be secretary. If 'he was a. strong man,, he would find too '..much of bis timo occupied in steering [clear of difficulties-with the military a-u----i'-.lioriities. who would resent interference jlroiii a purely civilian official in what ithe-y regard l as matters requiring special and experience to successfully ■ deal' with. If the secretary was an amiable sort of person, he would bo merely au vnnecessary -channel of communication—a. i#C# «W&--WWM» Mi«WS|SSato:«iH*-,

ever would attach' to him if anything went wrong. He would be prone to gradually gather a staff about hira to do a lot of redundant minuting and recording, and, in short, he. would be a ''.fifth Wheel to the coach.'' All that he could do is now done by the capable and courteous gentlemen who act as private, secretaries to the Minister at much less cost, and the services of one of whom, anyhow, the Minister would have to retain. We have mentioned this a.t some length to show that wo have carefully viewed the matter from various angles, and we kept steadily in view the important future lying ahead of the Department of Defence. When this war is over, some countries will, fortunately, ho able'to practically disband their armies, and think of defence in the past tense; hut not so Hew Zealand. From now onward defence is going to be a costly business, and it is for that reason that for eevry pound spent the country must feel assured that it is getting twenty shillings' worth. A TRIBUTE TO THE DEPARMENTS WORK. Finally, we wish to emphasise that we were commissioned by your Excellency to seek out faults and not extol virtues- We have looked for failings and recorded them herein; but on the way we found admiraible work of much greater quantity. Therefore,, when its strong points are weighed against atg weaknesses, es; pecially bearing in mind how scarce competent and experienced assistance was, the Department may well comfort itself l proudly. I Tn all essentials -the administrations have succeeded.. A few instances: — Forty millions pounds spent and no I frauds. J An army of 100,000 men excellently and fully equipped, and carried to the ! other end of the world. A declaration j by the most responsible public man four years ago that this could bo done by \ Hew Zealand would have' been described j as "rhetoric"—or worse. , i Supplies have been purchased well, and,, j although the actual purchasing has been j done outside the, Department, military officers have been responsible that quani titics have been sufficient and not erces-i j sive. , I The bargain for transport vessels is j the most favorable that can be learnt of anywhere. Your sick and wounded ihavo been tended with efficient and tender care both here and abroad. tA Gallipoli your hospital ships won such a namo that the wounded of other forces counted themselves nis^-factarawte- ia-hc tranjapfflitod .»%ii«Mfc ■-..-. jj