PURCHASING 31.1 



formidable opponent than the former. And that these 

 difficulties will increase instead of diminish in the future 

 appears likely, so far as one can look ahead, unless we 

 make a complete and radical change in our system. 



The remedy lies in our own hands, and in the face Eemedy 

 of such bitter experiences as ours have been in the 

 East and in Africa, it is almost incredible that we do 

 not set to work in earnest to grapple with this bugbear, 

 and settle it at once and for ever. If, for reasons 

 best known to itself, that kernel of centralisation the 

 War Office will not adopt a permanent system, it 

 ought at least to follow the example of the French in 

 Algeria, and hire camels, or any transport animals, on 

 the same principle. This would, at least, have one 

 advantage, which in itself is sufficiently powerful to 

 recommend its superiority over other temporary sys- 

 tems, and that is, having owners as supervisors and 

 professional men as drivers, which, at all events, 

 ensures better treatment and management of animals, 

 and, as a consequence, a greater return of work on 

 their part. 



And there is yet another alternative which is worthy Another 

 of attention, but which, while providing for transport, 

 would not succeed in the question of drivers. In all 

 possessions and colonies where necessary, keep a 

 register in each province or district, under the re- 

 sponsible civil officer in charge of such, in which the 

 owners of all vehicles and transport animals of every 

 description should be compelled to register annually 

 (or every six months) the number of animals and carts 

 in their possession, showing the individual value of 

 each, with a strict proviso that, in the event of an 



