RULING GERMANY A WELL-PAID JOB

Chronicle (Levin), 28 May 1946, Page 2

RULING GERMANY A WELL-PAID JOB

• ARMY- GF CGL0NELS 4ND. , MAJORS Inquiries are being made into the cost and size of the British Control Commission in ' Germany, says Charles Wighton, British United Press correspondent. Especially it is hoped to find the answers to these questions: 1. Whether it is necessary to have a total estabiisnment of 16,525 British personnel — with more on the way. 2. Whether the cost of salaries and allowances should be as high as £8,051,535. Questions are also being put about the large proportion of senior ranks employed. How much of the £8,000,000 is paicl by the British taxpayer ancl how much by the Germans.is still uncertain. Every British member of the Control Commission staff hold-s at least the equivalent rank of warrant oflicer. Top officials get £1600 after income tax has been paid. In one section, for example, there are a brigadier, two full colonels, some lieut.-colonels or their equiva- ; lents, about 27 majors, some junior officers and clerks. And here is affi analysis of the total strength: — Brigadiers, or above, with their civilian equivalents total 76, and cost in salaries and allowances j £122,444. Two hundred and eighty- ; eight colonels and their equivalents ' cost £420,311. Two thousand and! tliirty-three majors and equiva- j lents cost £1,889,235. In other words, about one in every six on the commission is a major or a colcncl. Salary rates vary considerably in the different divisions, but an Army major — married with two children — serving on the Control Commission staff gets £709 a year, after payment of tax. Lieut.Colonels get about £850 after tax.