Included in White Papers dealing with the Army Estimates issued in mail week is a statement of excess, giving the sum_ of £6,835- 607 1s. 5d. required to be voted to make good excesses of Army expenditure beyond the grants for the year ended March 31, 1920. This sum is in respect of a net total vast of £417,696,780 11s. 10d., including liabilities outstanding on the first day of the year. The excess arose mainly on the charge for regi mental pay, and was due generally to the difficulties experienced in estimating and cash accounting during the year of demobilization.
Another is a Vote on Account amounting to £45,000,000, which is required for the year 1921-22. It represents between four and five months' expenditure in the peri when disbursements will be hea' est, and is made up to the following heads of cost:—
Maintenance of standing army, Territorial and reserve forces, 4,500, Educational establishments and working expenses of hospitals, depots, ete. £3,250,000.
War Office, staff of commands, ete., £1,025,000.
Capital accounts new building services, £471,000, Terminal "and miscellaneous charges, etc., £9,250,000, Half-pay, retired pay, pensions, etc., Drop gr Over £30,000,000.
The net total of the Army Eati mates for the year 1921-82 is £106,315,000, as compared with 164,750,000 for 1920-21, madd up as follows:—
Provision for the Army at home, in the Colonies, Egypt, stantinople, and on the Rhine, for the territorial and reserve forces and for non-effective charges, £69,116,500.
Provision for the forces in Mesopotamia and Palestine, £26,496,500.
Charges arising out of the war, in.
cluding outstanding payments for' ser.
vices already rendered, reinstatement of properties occupied during the war and of ships after use as transports, employed in the disposal of war stock, medals, and records, and extra labour £10,702,000, Owing to the disturbed condittions recently prevailing in the Middle East, and especially in Mesopotamia, it has not been possible te complete the detailed Army Estimates in time for presentation with the Vote of Account, but it is hoped to circulate them immediately after Easter. It is intended that when the Middle East Departmen: of the Colonial Office has been duly constituted, estimates shall be presented for the Department covering both civil and military charges in Mesopotamia and Pales-me.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.