THE KIT ALLOWANCE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 27, 26 October 1917, Page 4

THE KIT ALLOWANCE

COMPLAINT BY AN OFFICER, A letter from a New Zealand' officer complaining that the kit allowance of .£25 given to New Zealand officers was insufficient was read to the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon by Mr.. Isitt. The writer complained that the cost of his kit in New Zealand war over .£4O, and when he Teaohed Home ■ho had to secure practically a fresh kit. Boots «wt up to £5 a pair, slceping-baga up to £o, and French cloaks up to =£G. Tho Imperial Government allowed an ofiicer .£IOO to buy his kit, and a grant of illO every year to replenish it. Mr. Isitt said this was not a criticism of the Minister of Defence; it dealt entirely with tho policy of this country. Tho Minister of Defenco, ho felt sure, would agree with him that therij should be a rule that .poverty should not debar a man from securing commissioned rank. Sir James Allen, in reply, said I hers ■ was another rule—that they should rot j encourage officers to be downright cx- [ travagant. It was purely, ridiculous, a uniform costing .£4O. He would not as* Mr. Isitt for the officer's name, because he would have to tftko action. An offices' received ,£25 and a field allowatico w replenish his kit. It was the first com' plaint of the kind he had heard. Iw recommended Mr. Isitt to write back t& his correspondent and say he was a puro "groucher." Mr. Jennings contended that if ttiJj British authorities considered that .£10(1 should be allowod for an officer's kit, thv New' Zealand allowance of £25 could not be sufficient. He criticised the Minister k remarks. Sir James Allen said it ffas unnecc(>< snry for ,an officer to writs and niakii complaints so utterly unreasonable end thoroughly unfair. Mr. Isitt; Well I dispute that. ■