DEFENCE DEPARTMENT ECONOMY.

White Ribbon, Volume 23, Issue 273, 18 March 1918, Page 6

DEFENCE DEPARTMENT ECONOMY.

A Commission is sitting to consider the expenses of the Defence Department. One witness spoke of a troopship which had been fitted up for troops at a cost of over a thousand pounds. As soon as it was ready word came that it was to be used to carry stock, and it was dismantled. Does this witness think his is a solitary case? It is common talk at one of our ports that the Government could have bought the whole fleet of ships for less money than they have spent repairing and altering them. We are told by those who know that it cost as much to fit up a troopship as the ship could be bough: for. While the Government finds the money nobody seems to think it necessary to spend it carefully. For instance, painters were set to work on a hospital ship, and painted the whole interior. She made one trip, then on her return wiseacres decided that the colour should be altered, and she was re-painted. On her return from a second trip the authorities decided to paint her again the original colour. The appointmest of capable women to superintend camp kitchens, furnishings. and hospital and troop ships, would have secured economy, combined with efficiency. In Knglano, America, .nd the Allies women are doing useful work in this direction. How slow are our Government in using its women for work.