DEFENCE COMMISSION.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 May 1918, Page 4

DEFENCE COMMISSION.

FURTHER EVIDENCE. By Telegraph.—'Press Association. Wellington, May 14. Lieut-Colonel T. A. Hunter, Director of Dental Services, examined by the Defence Expenditure Commission to-day, stated that the dental members of the Medical Board had been cut out on hii recommendation, the idea being that the whole of the dental work could be done in camp. He could not speak too highly of the patriotism of the New Zealand Dental Corpß. Many of them had made very great sacrifices, and the success of the whole thing was due to their united efforts. Practically the whole of the Dental Association volunteered for dental service. He thought it quite justifiable to give them special pay, because they were doing special work, for which they required special training. The saving effected during the past six months through doing the dental work inside the camps was: Featheraton £6204, Trentham £3429. No fewer than 8000 operations were involved in the treatment of 1295 members of the 39th Befnforcements.

Lieut. A. McDonald, further examined, stated that the staff travelling round with the Medical Corps could be considerably reduoed. Lieut. F. A. McDonald, in charge of the home service branch, giving evidence before the Defence Expenditure Commission to-day, said there seemed to be a. lot of laxity in regard to rifle ranges. In some cases ranges were offered at a nominal rental, and the coat of officers to inspect them was almost sufficient to purchase them. Captain Cossgrove, Director of Eeeruitmg, gave further evidence. He said the statement of Colonel T. W. Macdonald that a man passed fit could come to Weilington and be classed as C2 was absol* utely contrary to fact. As to the large size of the medical boards, he considered that under Lieut. F. A. Macdonald's scheme no saving would be effected.

AN EXTRAORDINARY REGULATION,

Wellington, Last Nighit. At the Defence Commission, Major Bartiett, Deputy-Director of Base Records, gave evidence on the subject of the conduct sheet, made up and given a man on discharge. Under the regulations a man had to have two and a-half years' service to entitle him to a very good character, and with less service he could only get good character. The chairman: Do you thanfc that fair? Witness: Not entirelv.

The chairman gaid the trouble was a man who went to the front got shot in a couple of months, and, coming back, could only get a good certificate, whilo a man who served on a Boft joib for two and a-half years could get a very good certificate.

The Commission adjourned sine die*