DEFENCE COMMISSION.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16206, 8 May 1918, Page 9

DEFENCE COMMISSION.

(rBESS ASSOCIATION TELKGRAH.) \VG'iUjN, May 7. Giving evidence beroro tiio i>otence JExpenctuuro Commission to-aay, Mr T. 6. Konaidson (chairman of tao isolators' financial Assistance board; stated tliat when the board was satisfied there was hardship it could give relief, up to £5i awo ok, additional to any wage received, but it had to bo subject to an allotment of 3s 6d a day. For a woman, without a child, whoso husband went to the front, that meant £118 12s per year. Ninety pounds per year was the minimum for a woman to feed and clothe herself. The board took into consideration the pre-war earnings of a soldier, and the consequont state of living of his wife. It did not take into consideration the personal earnings of a wife in poor circumstances. If a man wns killed, the board kept up help until tho -woman received her pension. Up to the end of April tho Minister had approvod grants in 5191 cases, at an annual expenditure of £184,240. After reviewing cases, consequent on the increased separation allowances made in January,* redactions were mado totalling £58,810. per annum. There was no overlapping between the board and the patriotic societies.

B. C-. "Warnes, i-ecalled. dealing with tho expense at Base Records", said lie was unable to see the necessity for a deputy-director. Ho complained that trained business men were at the dictation of inexperienced men. In some eases, wearers of uniform drew far larger salaries than those in civilian clothes, who were occupying higher and more responsible positions or doing the same work much better. Second-Lieutenant Haydon, Company Sergeant-Maior Donnelly, Sergeant Carter, and Quartermaster-Sergeant Grayburn, 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 here of their experisnce gained at Home. They wore of the opinion that the system of training here could be improved by the knowledge of men. like themselves, just back from the front. Q.M.S. Grayburn expressed the opinion that Trentham was entirely overstaffed, and that tho high officers were doing work that could s>o5 >o done by corporals and privates. The rationing system at Trentham was out of data*