DEFENCE COMMISSION.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 May 1918, Page 4

DEFENCE COMMISSION.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. | By Telegraph.—Press Association. ] Wellington, May 7. Major Griffin, Director of Financial Services, gave further evidence to-day before the Defence Commission on the I subject of differential allowances. The [allowances were, he said, made by Gab- | inet on the recommendation of Colonel Gibbon. Mr. T. S. Ivonaldson, chairman of the Soldiers' Financial Assistance Hoard, stated that when the hoard was satisfied that there was hardship it could give relief up to £.' l per week, which was additional to any wage received, but it had to be subject to an allotment of Us (id per day. For a woman without a child, whose husband went to the front, that meant :CIIS 12s (id per year, while £9O was the minimum for a woman to feed and clothe herself on. The board took into consideration the duration of the pre-war earnings of si soldier, and the consequent state of living of his wife, but did not take into consideration the personal circumstances of a wife in poor circumstances. If a man was killed the board kept up its help until the woman received a pension. Up to the end of April the Minister had approved grants in fill) I cases, at an annual expenditure of £104,240.

After reviewing cases consequent on the increased separation allowances made in January, reductions were made totalling £58,810 per annum. There was no overlapping between the board and patriotic societies.

WASTEFUL METHODS. TRESTHAM LARGELY OVERSTAFFED. Wellington, Last Night. B. C. Warnes, recalled, dealing with the expense at the Ease Records, said he was unable to see the necessity for a Deputy-Director and a Deputy-Assistant Director. He complained that trained business men were at the dictation of inexperienced men. In some cases wearers of uniform drew far larger salaries than those ir> civilian clothes occupying Higher and more responsible positions or doing the same work much better.

Second-Lieutenant Haydon, company iSergcant-Major Donnelly, Sergeant Carter, Quartermaster-Sergeant orayburn, special instructors sent out for instructional purposes, attended at the request of the Commission. Their evidence was to the effect that they were given no opportunity of making use of the experience gained at Home. Tftcy were of opinion that a system of training here could he improved by the knowledge of men like themselves just back from the front.

Grayburn expressed the opinion that Trentbam was entirely overstaffed and high officers were doing work that could be dono by corporals and privates. The rationing system at Trentham was out of date.