DEFENCE COMMISSION.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16212, 15 May 1918, Page 10

DEFENCE COMMISSION.

(press association telegram.)

WELLINGTON, May 14

Lieutenant-Colonel T. A. Hunter, Director of Dental Services, was examined before the Defence Expenditure Commission to-day. Ho stated that tho dental members of the Medical Board had been cutout on his recommendation, tho idea, being that the whole of tho dental work could be done in camp. He could not speak too highly of tho patriotism of the New Zealand Dental Corps. M'*}' members had made jjreat sacrifices, and tho success of tho whole thing was due to their united efforts. Practically the whole of the Dental Association had volunteered for dental service. Ho thought it quite justifiable to give them special pay, because they were, doing special work, for which thev did not require special training. The saving effected auring tho past six months, through doing the dental work inside tho camps was:—Featherston £6294, Trentham £3429. No fewer than 8000 operations were involved in the treatment of 1275 members of th© Thirtyninth Reinforcements.

Lieutenant A. McDonald, further examined, stated that the staff travelling round with the Medical Corps could b© considerably reduced. Lieutenant F. A. McDonald, in charge of tho Home Service Branch, said there seemed a lot of laxity in regard to rifle ranges. In some cases the ranges were offered at a nominal rental, and the cost of sending officers to inspect them was almost sufficient to purchase them.

■ Captain Cossgrove, Director of Recruiting, gave further evidence. He said the statement of Colonel' T. W. McDonald, that a man passed as fit could come to Wellington and be classed as C 2 was absolutely contrary to fact. As to the large size of Medical Boards, he considered that, under Lieutenant F. A. McDonald's scheme, no saving would he effected.

Major . Bartlett, Deputy-Director of Base Records, gave evidence on the subject of th© conduct sheet made up and given to jl man on his discharge. Under the regulations a man had to have 2J years' service to entitle him to a very good character, and with less service ho could only get a good character.

The chairman: Do you think that fair?

Witness: Not entirely,

Th© chairman said the trouble was a man who went to the front, got shot in a couple of months, and came back, could only get a good certificate, while a man who served on a soft job for 2J- years could get a very good certificate. i . . The Commission adjourned sine die.