DEFENCE COMMISSION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17788, 13 May 1918, Page 4

DEFENCE COMMISSION.

[Per Press Association.] . WELLINGTON, Mav 11. Giving evidence before the Defence Expenditure Commission to-day, Mr A. D Thomson, Assistant-Public Service Commissioner, stated that thero were two authorities supplying staffs to the military branch, and this was nnsatisfactory. The Public Servieo Commissioner had no control over the Home Service branch, and the dual control created dissatisfaction. Military and civilian officers woro working sido by side, and tho former got extra pay. A soldier was paid not according to the work ho did but according to the rank lie held.

Questioned on the subject of frauds, tho witness said that thero had really been nothing to complain about apart iiom a few irregularities in connection with stores.

Tiie chairman said that New Zealand was tho only country lie know of which had passed through tho war period without somo frauds being discovered in connection with military organisation.

The contention was mado by Major Norton Francis, in cluy-go mf Base Records, that Lieutenant-Colonel T. W. MacDonald was wrong in his figures as to the saving to be effected by having tho Base Records and the War Expenses Branches under one roof. Many office men in uniform were unpaid. The practice in his department was to employ returned soldiers and unfit men. The chairman said the point was that it was inadvisable to keep fit men in jobs when unfit men were available. Major Francis said he did not understand it was the policy of tho Court to discharge returned soldiers because their work could he done by women. The statement that the correspondence branch was nob allowed to approach witness as director was contrary to fact. Any sectional head could go to him direct.

The chairman said tho Commission never once had been able to trace a case in which tho Minister of Defence interfered with an appointment. POSITION OF TERRITORIAL OFFICERS.

Tho position of Territorial officers who havo been taken into camp and given a lower rank than they had previously held, and which is understood to havo cioated considerable irritation, was discussed by tho Defence Commissioner yesterday. ' Asked if ho did *ot think an error had been committal hi taking tins action. General Itobin said it was not admitted that an error was committed, as. tho situation was forced by the pi ov is.ions of tho Military Service Act, which is not a respecter of persons m its insistonco that every fib man must proceed abroad when his turn comes. ‘‘The Military Service Act had the effect of throwing a surplus or inexperienced officers on our hands, and legal difficulties, involved m reconciling tho provisions of the Military Service Act with the necessity for respecting the King’s commission, if possible caused unavoidable delay regarding the disposal of these officers. 1 his problem exists in other parts of the Emm re, as applications are being received asking for employment here, the applicants stating that there is a surplus m their own dominions.” Continuing, General Robin added" that a decision is now being come to that the men will have to e 0 into camp as sergeants by tho middle of the month. It is understood that tho party of officers have made their arrangements for such <t contingency us Jins nrisen. They have been legally advised that they must he given commissioned rank, and that they cannot b 0 deprived of their commissions except as a result of a court-martial. They will probably fight the authorities, and there will be soino legal proceedings.