The Prevention of Waste
In time of war, when the first necessity is to get things done quickly whatever the cost, rough and ready methods are adopted, inevitably involving much waste of public money. In the last war waste must have cost the country scores of millions. If this matter is taken up promptly much unnecessary expenditure may be avoided without loss of efficiency. Sir Percy Harris reminds us that in 1917 (when fantastic expenditure had already done much of its disastrous work) a Select Committee on Expenditure was set up under Mr. Herbert (now Lord) Samuel, and that this committee. operating through sub-committees sitting in the spending departments, found innumerable ways and means of stopping waste and saving the nation's money. Sir Percy Harris him- self was on the sub-committee that sat in the War Office, and he tells us that its members, who visited military centres at home and abroad, were able to make representations that saved millions in this department alone. The bill for the war will come in due course. Sir John Simon has given us an inkling of what the taxpayer may expect. Any step likely to reduce this burden on the present and the future should be taken forthwith.
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