In the report of the Auditor-General, tabled in N.S.W Legislative Assembly, appears the following comment:-
"The defence of the State being a matter of Federal concern, any expenditure by the state upon military objects or assistance to the Federal Authority is subject to it's criticism. The State has expended public moneys upon various objects, without, so far as I know, objection by the Federal Authorities, and a return ordered by the Legislative Assembly to be printed April 5, 1916, shows certain expenditures in regard to recruiting, concessions to public servants on military service, accommodation for wounded soldiers, transport by rail. And various minor matters. At such a time as this one should be loth[sic] to criticise any assistance afforded by the State to the military, but the correspondence in the case under notice does not warrant the assumption that a school of aviation, not controlled by the Federal Authorities, is of military significance. I, therefore, deem it my duty to bring under notice the following letters. In response to my further inquiries, I have been informed that the papers will be forwarded to me when available.(1)

"The Executive Member, Committee of Control, Aviation School.
"Department of Audit, June 20, 1916.
"Sir – In forwarding the papers as to the aviation school, asked for urgently by you, in memorandum herewith, I have to state that as this school, in view of the disclaimer of Senator Pearce, Acting Premier, Commonwealth of Australia, herewith dated December 9, 1915, has now no military significance, and is apparently, from his letter, quite unnecessary in any scheme foe the defence of the Empire, and has no warrant on the score of urgency, it would be advisable for your committee, as responsible advisors in the matter, to make such representations as would lead to the speedy presentation of the scheme to Parliament for its sanction ---, have etc,

F.A. COGHLIN, Auditor-General.

"Department of Audit, Sydney July 17, 1916.
"The Secretary, Premier's Department.
"Sir – In returning the papers as the New South Wales School of Aviation, forwarded to me by the courtesy of the Acting-Premier, I beg to state for the Minister's information that I have read the letter of July 5 of the executive member of the committee of control. It shows that my letter of June 20 was fully justified, and that we are spending public moneys on a project which, however admirable in advancing aviation in Australia is posed as one of military value, while the military authority here declines to recognise it as of military significance.

"The question of the urgency of the establishment of this school has been left untouched by the executive member. Examination of Mr Cutler's letter does not show that the military officers referred to in the second paragraph have any knowledge of Senator Pearce's decision. If they had, they would not be expected to have been prepared to make the concession to the military students indicated. The number of such students is not named. Whatever the number may be, it seems to the duty of the committee of control, in view of the very definite decision of the federal Minister of Defence, to take steps to ascertain if such students are accepted at the school with the consent of the Minister of Defence.

"The reference in the letter to Lieutenant-Colonel Reynolds, Lieutenant Stutt, and the Imperial authorities, is of no value, unless it can be shown that the Imperial authorities are fully informed of the status of this particular school, and the attitude of the local military authority to it. In regard to the concluding paragraphs of the letter, I may point out that the committee has no power to enforce enlistment. The committee do not appear to have any regard to the fact that seeing that a pupil trained by them, if subsequently accepted must be trained by the military, there is a wastage in their scheme.

"I have, etc;
"(Signed) F.A. Coghlan, Auditor-General"


1.Please note the transcription has remained true to the punctuation in the newspaper.




Article sourced from the Windsor & Richmond Gazette courtesy of Carol Carruthers.