3

H.—24

Personal Equipment for Infantry-continued.

Foodstuffs for Training-camps. 3. The following table indicates the cost per man per day for food in the two important training-camps. I'ValhiTstou Trcrilhani Camp. Camp. 1917. s. d. s. el. June .. .. .. .. .. ..1 7838 I 7-354 July .. .. .. .. .. ..I 8073 1 0-703 August .. .. .. ~ 1 7-001 1 0-320 September .. . . .. . . .. 1 7-140 I. 0-500 October .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 7-312 I 0-103 November .. .. .. .. .. 1 7-430 1 0-043 December .. .. .. .. .. 1 7-140 1 5-044 1918. January .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 7-447 1 7-858 February .. .. .. .. .. 1 7-370 J 0-359 March .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 7-107 1 0-781 April .. . . .. .. . . .. 1 4-842 I 1-800 May . . .. .. .. ... I 5-673 I 1-750 J urre .. .. .. .. .. ..I 4-589 1 4-720 July .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 5-382 I 1-040 August .. .. .. .. .. ..1- 5618 I 5-790 September .. .. .. .. ..I 5-233 1 5-530 In regard to the above', table, showing the' cost of rations, if will please be 1 noted that the figures up to 31st March, 191.8, include the cost of rations, fuel, light, and straw used or consumed up to the point of time when they werrv delivered to the military storekeepers in the camps mentioned. From Ist April, 1918, the cost is ferr foodstuffs consumer! only, the cost of same being based on all charges incurred in delivering the goods to the camp storekeeper's concerned. The actual cost of distributing rations from the storekeepers to the', men has not been worked out by the military authorities. It is clear, however, that the' cost per day per man for food has been kept steady, notwithstanding the increased cost erf foodstuffs; the results therefore reflect cri'elit on I In- management of tin- military authorities concerned. 1. If being found under ruling conditions advantageous to establish a bulk store for the reception of necessary merchandise when suitable: opportunities occur for purchasing same, an arrangement accordingly was made with the Wellington Harbour Board unele'r which their "X" shed, is now used as a military bulk store on reasonable terms. From this store' the main Expeditionary Force camps have lately been largely supplied, and, as a, result erf the' close' surveillance exercised by the Director of Supplies anel Transport, marry supplies lor outlying camps, sanatoria, and. District Headquarters haver also been despatched therefrom more economically than they could have been procured by accepting prices tendered locally. The same comment is equally applicable to the' distribution of stores which come under the control of the Director of Equipment anel Ordnance Stores, who has throughout brought a practical mind to bear in effecting and suggesting economies in similar directions.

Article. Number of Eaob issued per Man. (lost of issue per Man. I 1915. 1916. 1917. I i I 0 0 I 0 0 I "ii I 3 1 3 5 10 0 5 13 0 0 10 0 8 3 0 12 0 | 0 2 5 0 0 10 | ■ ' 0 0 I 0 0 ' 5 0 0 (i o o 3| o o lo o o o o 0 (i 10 5 III 9 I 12 0 0 2 7 0 2 10 0 2 10 0 I 2 o I I , , 0 0 Ij 0 0 0 I 0 3 10 0 3 U Q 3 9 i 1918. 0 " I 5 13 6 ti | (i 1 (1 o 0 0 6 0 o 0 0 0 (i 1 12 0 0 3 In (I I 9 0 3 9 Accoutrements. Identity-discs ... Rifle. Slings, ride;, web Bayonet Scabbard Pull-through Oil-lrotllc Protector, P.S. Wi'lr equipment, pattern 1908 Water-bottle Implements, entrenching, heads Implements, entrenching, helves Mess-tins complete 5 10 0 8 9 ll|" 8 10 11 8 17 II I