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TOPICS OF THE DAY.
THE COMMANDANT AND THE
CANDLES.
"Pooh! what's a million!" exclaimed Sir
John Forrest on a memorable occasion while
in an historic speech he entered into an
elaborate calculation to prove that £50,000
a year only equalled a glass of beer' per
head for the people of Australia. Under his
open-handed regime the military establishment
of the Commonwealth bade fair to become
as much an incubus as that of Italy,
but the Federal Parliament had less respect
for frills, gold lace, and glory than he, and a
policy of retrenchment was, substituted for
the lavish outlay which Sir John had contemplated.
Hundreds! of thousands of
pounds were ruthlessly cut off the Estimates
either by the^fiegislature or by the
Cabinet, and there was no item of cost, however
insignificant, which was not carefully
scrutinised. It is often alleged by domestic
servants as a proof of the parsimony of
their mistresses that they "count the
matches" doled out for each day's use. In
the laudable endeavor to keep within strictly
economical limits the Defence Department
has almost reached this level of thrift.
It counts its candles. This is not a scandalous
libel, either, but a sober fact capable
of establishment on documentary evidence
of a strictly official character. in the district.
orders issued this week over
the signature of "C J. Reade, Major,
D.A.A.G."-which by interpretation means
deputy - assistant adjutant - general-this
solemn intimation is printed: "District
order No. 56, of July 27, 1903, is amended,
as under. State Commandants may
authorise an issue (if in their opinion such
is necessary) not exceeding two candles for
each of the undermentioned tents and mar-
queues when used-European tents (Indian
pattern); hospital marquee (when not
used as a hospital) ; mess' marquee. 2.
Should the above quantity not be found sufficient
for tents or marquees used for hospi-
tal purposes, such light as may be ordered
by the officer in medical charge can be sup-
plied." Presumably the candles are to
be used for purposes of illumination, although
the mention of the mess tent suggests
that they may be utilised for food.;
A serious omission is made, however, for
the size, the cost, and the "make" of the
candles are not mentioned, and a State
Commandant may be thrown into a condition
of nervous unrest because he has no
means of knowing whether the candles to
be served out should be wax tapers, tallow
dips, or any of the varying grades between
those extremes. Nor is there any specific
instruction as to the position in which
they should be placed, or how many lucifers
or landseekers should be served out with
each candle. It really; looks as though
District order No. 56" will have to be
again withdrawn for further revision. For
instance, are the two candles to be a daily
allowance, or are they to last for ever? If
daily, is the Commandant to spend a portion
of his valuable time issuing orders for
two candles every 24 hours? Really this
latest freak of the Military Department is
one of the most humorous it has perpetrated,
and that is saying a good deal.
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