The North Wales Chronicle and Advertiser for the Principality

THE CASE OF MISS I DOUGLAS PENNANT. OPENING OF THE INQUIRY. I ,u R F I" (iI I.T.' 'T(: I W. R. A. F. INCIDENTS. I The committee appointed to inquire :nto the causes A huh ieA to tb di.mis"al ',f the Hon. ;,yiolet Douglas Pennant from the .Wome?*a Royal'?Air Force sat at tho House of £ ords on Tuesday. Lord Wreu- bury presided. Much '.o??ar att?ntiott wa. aromcd by the Inquiry and the ccrnunUec- roo:r. was crowdod Among the i?'t?rc.t?d iis?ncrs Wen: L0fJ We!r, who was Air M?tistd' during the period material to the inquiry; Viscounties Falmouth. Miss Douglas Pllt- i.ant's sister. Earl Stanhope, and Daim Katharine Futse. Tho appearances wero a? follows: Miss Violet Douglas Pennant, repre- sented by Mr Hawke, K.C', Mr Stuart Bevan, K.C., and Mr J. Buchanan (oli- citors, Messrs Coward, Hawksley, and Co.). The Air Mini-try, represented by the Attofficy-t"I:cral (Sir G. Hewart, K.C I, IVIr Kigby Swift, K.C., Mr G. A. Branson, instructed by the Treasury soiici'or. General Sir W. S. Brancker, represented by hi? s?:citor, Sir L'harle3 HU3clL Mr W. C l'ersey, represented by Mr I' Hastings, K.C., and Mr Tliomas Cav- thew (solicitors. Simmons and Simmons) Licutenant-Co!onel S. Janson, repre- sented by Mr Curtis Bennett, K.C., arid Mr Tristrat •. Here;ford (solicitor?, Ken- ndh Brown and Co.). M).M 'wenda M. Cfubb, rpprc?entpd hy Mr Harold Morris {solicitors, Messrs Hyde, Mahon and Pascall). Alisa V. Leonard and Major CockLurn apjK-ar in person. The Chairman (Lord Wrenbury) F I l(I that as the inquiry involved issues which would been involved if it had been a rase in which Miss Douglas Pennant was bringing nn action for wrongful dismissal, the Committee thought that the Sirst step should be that she through her eou.iscil should opon the case. COUNSEL'S OPENING STATEMENT. Mr Hawke, K.C' then opened the ease for Miss Douglas Pennant. He said that he hoped to be able to confine his observa- tions wholly to the examination of the circumstances connected with her dismissal from the Women's Royal Air Force. On April 22nd, 1918, Miss Douglas Pennant was invited to become Commandant of the Women's Royal Air Force aj being the roost capable woman for the position. She clid not seek the appointment. Sho did not wish i. She asked for time for con sicieratiion. and after consideration she agreed to take a month' look round to see whether she could accept the position On May 13th, she began at the Hotel Cecil, the headquarters of the Force, an-i in June t he found the conditions were suoh that she decided not to accept tho position. She was urgently requested to change her mind by General Sir Jodfrey Paine, and s he agreed to stay. Early m July certain question- were asked .n the lIOll"c of Commons as to whether senior officers lad resigned sjinee the Comman- dant, the deputy ecrtitna-ndarit, aiid the assistant rommandants had been appoint- OC. and whether there was a feeling of dissatisfaction in the Force. Major Baird replied that two senior officer* had re-, signed, but that the Air Council had every confidence in Miss Douglas Pennant's ability, and saw no reason for an inquiry. He added tliat she waz, appointed to her present I)oiiii(Ill bejbau^e her experience and qualifications rendered her, in the view of the Air Ministry, the most suitable person to carry out t,he duties. On August 16th, or about that elate, sh.; was so dissatisfied that she asked for leave to resign, and she was refused that leave. I DISMISSAL OF MISS DOUGLAS PENNANT. On August 23rd Sir Godfrey Paine WM -.)-ornoted inci went to France. On August 28th Miss Douglas Ileiifitint was sum- marily dismissed from her position. That was done without giving her an opportu- nity of meeting any charge made against her. At that time Major-General Brancker l ad taken over the duties of Master- General d Personnel. It was admitted thai, the dismissal took place in circum- stances which showed an insufficient amount of consideration for Miss Douglas Pennant with regard IJ certain circum stances into which he would have to enter. It was admitted that there was no charge against her eiffciency. It was admitted with regard to her, in the words of Viscount Peel, tiiitt "ber character is un- assailed and unassailable." It was sug- gested that the causes of her dismissal were two. The first was on the ground of great unpopularity. The second was that it was alleged that f>h > f-allod to obtai, co-operatior:- with certaiii women's organi- sations. No inquiry was made whether these alleged fac-tg were attributable in any way to the fault or failure of Miss Douglas Pennant. Lord Weir had said that such un inquiry would be foreign to his methods. A QUESTION OF FORMALITY. The Chi.trinan asked who appointed Miss Douglas Pennant. Mr liawie: Sho was appointed by the Air Council. The Chairman: Have you any docu- ments to show what was done? Mr Hawke: Sho was appointed by Sir Godfrey Paine verbally. The Ear[ of Kintore: Which Department p, 'cl her'! Mr Hawke: I do not know whether sho was paill at all. If she were paid sho wmÙl ha/c been paid out of the Vote COl" the N atiooal Health Insurance Corr. mission for Arties. It is tho practice to icave an officer in such a case to be paid by the Depaitjment by whom she was ap- pointed lo her original position. The Chairman asked Low Miss Dougl^ Pennant was in form appointed to the of commandant. Mr Hawke replied that an announce- ment was made to tho Press by the Air Mini si ty that Miss Douglas Pennant had been appointed to be commandant of the W.R.A.F. Sir Godfrey Paine had written to her asking her to accept the position. She saw him, and on April 29th he wrote to her saying how glad ho was she had consented to serve. The Earl of Kintore: Did Miss Douglas Pennant sign any enrolment sheet ? Mr HaNke: She was trJd that she need not sign the form. There wts no provi- sion for a commandant at that time. She rendered services in the post until she was dismissed. What they had to inquire into were the citeumstances. The Chairman: If bh:- ne\cr had the office she could not have been dismissed. Mr Hawke: Whatever her legal rights may have been has very little to do with this inquiry. The Chairman: I agree that is quite immaterial. FORMATION OF THE W.R.A.F. I -NT, lfa,ke went on to describe steps In connection with the formation of the W.R.A.F. early in 1918, in order that women should be substituted for men in certain units and formations and offices administered by the Air Council. It was to be administered by the Department of the Master General of Personnel, and to -Hi controlled by the Director of Manning. In ate first constitution the ohief woman officer was the Chief Superintendent. There was no commandant. The post of Chief A-as ito corninan d ant. Superintendent, was- held by a lady up to tho time Miss Douglas Pennant was asked to take command. There was anotiher Department, M 3, under Licutenant-Col. Bersey. His responsibility was to the Master-General of Personnel, and also to General Livingston^, who was Assistant Master-General of Personnel. The lady who was Chief Superintendent was under the control of Lieutenant-Colonel Berscy. Ho was a sort of liaison officer. with two I offices in the Ministry whioh were known as Q 6 and Q 7, and they dealt with clothing end accommodation. When Miss Douglas Pennant was asked to accept the offi6e of (ommandant things had not be. ing going well. General Paine promised .her that she shou!d have authority over the Women's Force, And that she should work under him, and that the document dealing with thi matter should be revised, and this change of position should be known to everybody. That made a radi- cal position at once. It made the Women's Department independent of -any control except (hat of the Master-General of Personnel. It interfered very consider. ably with the duties of General Living- fitono and Lieutenant Colonel Bersey. They both seemed to have resented it. General Livingstone very soon showed that ho entirely disapproved of this change. J UNSATISFACTORY ORGANISATION. I Counsel did not suppose that any at- tempt would be mado to deny the fact that up to the time sho was dismiss^ Miss Douglas Pennant threw herself into her duties with devotion. She had as deputy commandant Miss Pratt and r,8 assistant commandants Mrs Beatty and Miss Andrew. She found that there was .in M. 3 and in W.M. 3 very httie orga.m- sation. Throughout the W. R.A.F. tiiierc -Aas +. state of disorganisation, and in her case she stated there was no sufficient, organisation, no sufficient records of per- sonnel, postings, or camps, no registry, and no system for filing letters. The Chairman: Colonel Bersoy docs not admit that. Mr HawkeThe Air Force admit it. riho position in several camps wao unsatis- factory. There were no sufficient regula- tions as to discipline. There were not sufficient supplies of clothing There wre no sufficient medical arrangements for treating the personnel. Indeed, Miss Douglas Pen riant had more than once paid for it out of her own pocket. So far as tho rank ii (I file were concerned, the num- ber of women was between 14.000 a id 15,000. 1 here were 500 camps in different parts of the country, and there were only 73 ofifcers. Miss Douglas Pennant set her- self to change this system. Of course, when ccrta. n oiffcers concerned found her disclosing tlii, state of affairs, and when they found her all ardent reformer, they did not like it. I A PREMATURE ANNOUNCEMENT. I Some iittie discussion took place im- mcdiatety Ol resumption after lunch be- t-?n Lord Wrcnbury and Mr Hawke truriirg his continued ptateriient3 regard- Airg ttio actual apjionitment of Miss Dcugias Pennant. His Lordship said ho had hot een any proof of appointment up to that moment. It was taken for granted that she.wa.: to serve with The W.R.A. F., but her services were being really loaned. Mr Hawke replied that the Air Council ap pioved Sir Godfrey Paine's suggestion that Miss Douglas Pennant be appointed Commandant. He drew attention to an announcement which was sent officially to the Press, with request for publication, stating that Miss Douglas Pennant had been appointed. Lord Denbigh reminded M- Hawke t.hat ho said the announcement was premature, aa, in a s* nse, Miss Douglas Pennant had not agreed to act definitely. Mr Hawke referred, in his insistent eoi- tention that Miss Doug'as Pennant was (,frt,iti'y al i,o' nted, to the announcement by Major Baird in the. House of Com- inons on August 7th, J918, and admitted that it was an error if he had previously namod the date as July 7th. 1 roceedinp with Miss Douglas Pennant's u^ nties and energy, Mr Hawke said that she got to work both in the office and :n several 1rainmg camps of the W.R.A.F., which < ntailed much troubie because of thei.- being so ;;caUNe.d a?rt. She found that the offices wero wholly without organisa- !im}. The method-or lack of method-was aeufce. There was the greatest difficulty in even finding letters, there being no sys- tem of registration. Miss Douglas Pen- riant made a tour of some of the hostels where the women lived. I THREE CHIEF NEEDS. j I Tho resul t of these observations was th" I threo chicf things required in her opin- I ion:- I 1. Training of oiffcers. 2. Proper accommodation. 1 3. Office organisation. Xho provision made for the training oF officers was at a house in Portland-place, where tney turned out twenty-five trained officers' about every three weeks. At that tune, therefore, it meant the number of 0i1 y 100 111 three months. This meant, there were still hundreds less than the number required, and those large bers of women in the Corptt were scattered all over the country without officers or discipline. I NO CO OPERATION. Lord Wrenbury: Are you going to say that the difficulty was she asked for as- ..ishmoo and it was refused'' .I, lr Hay. Mr Hav/kc: I am going to say that the progress which would have come about had Miss Douglas Pennant received sym- pathetic t o-operation Nvotild havc, been a great deal more marked than was the case, due to the fact that she could not- get that co-operation, and that they dt.1 not like her method. It was, of course, necessary, proceeded counsel, to indicate what lack of organisa- tion thero was in ord-er that he might show the extent. of organisation which Miss Douglas Pennant had instituted. One of the main features was the training of offi- cers. A bouio in Gloucester-place had been utilised for accommodation, buit when Miss Douglas Pennent examined this place she decided it was quite unsatis- factory for the purpose and reported the faot. She inspected a sito for training a num- ber of cookj and general servants at Alt- ham Camp. She found it wholly unsuit- able on 3axiitary grounds, eo eet out to fmd some other scheme, ajid ,thought of I West Hampstead, where she could train one hundred officers at a time. The diffi- culties that arose were certain things had to be provided, such as furniture and equipment, etc. Time after time, said Mr Hawke, Miss Douglas Pennant asked Colonel Bersey to indent for the furni- ture. Colonel Bersey was always very agree- able and ready with his response of "righto," but, unfortunately, when he eaid "righto" he was like the man of old who said: "1 go, Sir"—and went not. NO INDENT ORDERED. -1 The consequence was nothing was done, and he was going to ctll iyldepend-L-iit evi- dence that Colonel Bersey was asked not only by Mies Douglas Pennant but by others to indent for the things. He told another officer, however, as soon as he had left Miss Douglas Pennant, that he was not to indent for them but to wait. "So this scheme did not get into effect until after Miss Douglas Pennant had left the Air Force," said Mr Hawke. "This is very important, because one of the com pi a ints made by one of the other officers i6 that Miss Douglas Pennant did not have sufficient officers. It was a Iriie complaint, but she was the one person who tried hard to get more officers, and was stopped through the carelessness and inactivity of other people, but when blwtic was turned on her no inquiry was macie as to whether it was her fault or not." She was dismissed because they said she did not succeed. Now rney said she was there to get more officers and did not succeed. DESIRED INDEPENDENCE. j The methods adopted in regard to sys- tems in the W.R.A.F. and the officers re- sponsible for administration were referred to by Mr Hawke. Miss Douglas Pui- nant saw Sir Godfrey Paine t-ega d: lg the organisation needed. CieneraJ Living- stone invited her to go arid see him, and told her that unless she was prepared tc. work under the Director of Manning the whole scheme would break down. She explained the position she took up on going there as Commandant, and under- stood she was to be independent. In- terviews which followed with the "Master of General Personnel" and the "Deputy Master of Personnel" were spoken oi, and a series of letters which had passed were read by counsel. Opinions were sought for regarding certain printed fornia used in the Air Service, and it \1."(.8 expired by Mr Hawke that the authorities thought the women should be under a commandant and the business side under men. The concluding stages of the sitting on Tuesday were taken up by Mr Hawke's references to appointments of oertain ladies to oosts as officers without the con- sent or advice of Miss Douglas Pennant. Two of these ladies were transferred from the W.A.A.C., and it was gathered they only consented to the transfer to the W.R.A.F. on rondition they received the appointments promised them. Miss Douglas Pennant- was perfectly willing to appoint all the five ladies to lower offices, for which she regarded them as suited. Unfortunately for her, one of the ladies was a relative of Ctemerai JLivingtsOne, and others woro friends of Colonel Bersey. A PAINFUL INTER. VIEW." On July 1st Mias Pratt, Mrs Beatty, and Mias Taylor went in a body to Miss Douglas Pennant's room and handed her their resignations. with a request that their written reasons should be forwarded immediately to the Air Council. Miss Pratt, the Assistant C-ommandant, stated in her letter that she was transferred from the W.A.A.C.'s to the W.R.A.F.'a on March 15th;. that until May 13th she j received her instructions from Colonel Bersey. The work was heavy throughout, and was hampered by lack of etatf and facilities. From May 13th sho ivas re- sponsible to Miss Douglas Pennant, and tne difficulties increased. "A great deal of my time," proceeded Miss Pratt, "has to be placed at the disposal of the Com- mandant, who requires information, and that is not counter-balanced by any re- duction of my other duties. The im- position of so much extra work and re- sponsibility on an already over-worked staff can only lead tatogtiftisirin. I feel it is impossible to hold a. position in which I have no powers, and am li-able to be held responsible over things which I can- not control and of which I entirely dis- approve." The Chairman asked counsel what infer- ence he drew from that letter. Mr Ilawke: That Miss Pratt had lost her courage. The Chairman Docs it not mean, ';1 am so hampered in my work that I am no Counsel mentioned that in writing to Miss Pratt and Mrs Beatty, stating that their resignations had been accepted by the Air Council, Miss Douglas Pennant added: "Y ott are to continue your work until relieved." They disobeyed that or- der. The Chairman: What mado them do I that? Mr Ilawke: I cannot say, unless it was that they had conceived a dislike for the Commandant, and wished to put her in a difficulty. The Chairman: Or it may be that their tempers were short that day. Mr Hawke: Anyhow, they disobeyed or- ders—which were not those of Miss Douglas Pennant. The Chairman: The impression is that these three ladies resigned because they c-otild not get on with their Commandant. Mr Hawke: Not one of them eays so. The Chairman One of them refers to "the painful interview which took place in your room." So there must have been some friction. Mr Ilawke replied that the "painful in- terview" was this. Miss Pratt asked to go on leave, pending the consideration of her resignation. The Commandant said: "I can only give you sick-leave. You are not sick, are you ?" The reply being in tthe negative, the Commandant said: "Then I cannot give you IfQve." Up to that time Miss Pratt- had never made any <,omplaint aga:inst Miss Douglas Pennant. Their relations were perfectly cordial. REASONS FOR RESIGNING. I Sir Godfrey Paine, said counsel, insisted on seeing Miss Douglas-Penna-nt and Col. Bersey, Miss Pratt's former Commandant. Ho went through the letter of complaint paragraph by paragraph, and Colonel Bersey said there was nothing in the al- legations. Miss Andrew wrote that her reports were not acted upon, and that s he was not prepared to accept responsibility for things w'hich sho had no power to remedy. Miss Taylor complained that, while she had been promised an trea to control, s he was reduced by the Command- ant, in effect, to the position of a junior clerk. Mrs Beatty wrote that, while she was transferred from the W.R.N.S. to the W.li-A.F., as a senior offioer with special knowledge, the Commandant would not allow her to use that knowledge; for seven weeks she had spent most of her time as a section-leader clerk. As a sen- ior officer she complained that she was kept in the dark as to policy. There seemed to be no possibility, she 9aid, of realising the immeiuse possibilities of the service under such conditions. Miss An- drew's resignation was not accepted. She was young, and it was bought that she had been influenced by her elders. "If, said Mr Hawke at the end cf his adcire-s for the day, "these ladies wished to plaoe Miss Douglas Pennant in a difficulty they certainly 6U(>d.. WEDNESDAY'S PROCEEDINGS.] The cliief feature of Wednesday's pro. oeedings was the calling of the Hon. Violet Douglas Pennant to give evidence. Miss Douglas Pennant wore a dark blue costume and had pearl car-rings. She showed very full knowledge of the details of a cas,) paekod witli them, but even her recollec- tion had to be refreshed at times about some of the minor fuels and dates. Sitting betwcon the Chairman and her counsel, it was unfortunate that- some of her answers die not travel very far down the room Sho was lawyers call an explanatory witness, anxious to give complete answers, and in her own words. One of the reiso-i.; given for her dismissal was that she was unpopular, difficult to get on with, and quarre-lled with everybody. Such a repu tat ion is hard to reconcile with her de- meanour in the witness chair, her ready and engaging smile, and h(.r eagerness to help in the settlement of any controversial point on which her assistance is invited. Mr J. A. Hawke, K.C., continuing the case for Miss Douglas Pennant, said that thero had been concerted action on the part of love-ral per- sons to get Miss Douglas Pennant dis- missed. Colonel Bersey was concerned, though it was not suggested that he treat- ed the lady with anything but respect. On July 3rd Colonel Bersey told Miss Douglas Pennant he was going to resign unless gho- went. She asked why, and he replied, "Because I can't get on with you." The Colonel, however, did not tender his resignation, possibly because, said Mr Hawkc, it might have been accept- ed, as the others had been. Dame Katharine Furze, who was in charge of the W.R.N.S.. oame to see Miss Douglas Pennant, and obviously was very much annoyed becauso Mrs Beatty, the senior officer, who had been formerly head of the W.R.N.S., had resigned. In a sub- sequent interview with Sir Godfrey Paine, Dame Furze burst out in an attack on Miss Doug-las Pennant, saying that she had been the cause of tho resignation of one of her most valuable officers, referring, apparently, to Mrs Beatty. The Chairman intervened with a sug- gestion that the details concerning tho actions of Dame Katherine Furze were not altogether relevant. Mr Hawke: One of the suggestions made is that the dismissal of Miss Douglas Pennant was partly brought about by the influence exercised by Da.me Katharine Furze. The Chairman: Upon whom was the in- fluence exercised? Mr Hawko: Directly or indirectly it must have been upon Lord Weir, because he was the person with whom rested the decision. COMPLAINTS AGAINST W.R.A.F. I Counsel then read a long letter from the Minister of Labour complaining of the shortage of officers in the W.R.A.F. and slackness in discipline, which reacted un. favourably upon recruitment. Mr Rigby Swift, for the Air Ministry, said, in his reply, Lord Weir said he could now expect to see the result of Miss Douglas Pennant's work if she is to justify her appointment." "We don't accept that General Brancker had nothing to do with the matter." said Mr Hawke. "Unt.il Sir Godfrey Paine left approval wa.a always expressed of Mias Douglas Pennant. Mr Hawke, resuming, said that on August 28th, Miss Douglas Pennant was caUod to General Brancker's room, and General Brancker said to her: "I am sorry to tell you that you are to go. It is not because you are ineflioient-I understand that you are very offioient--but because you are so unpopular with everyone you come in com tact with. No one will work with you. You have been the cause of the resignation of a very efficient staff." I Miss Douglas Pennant a3ked when she 1: 1 was to go, and General Brancker replied "At once." I "NO ORGANISATION." I ?ISS DOUGLAS PENNANT ON HER EXPERIECE. Miss Douglas Pennant was the first witness. IlaNing taken the oath, sho was examined by Mr Stuart lie van, K.C. Questioned as to her public life, witness said that fCt many years s he was engaged in educational work, and was a Commis- sioner of tho Na-tional Health Insurance Cemmiseion for Wales. Prcvicua to ?'at she was a member of the London County j Council Education Committee, and Chair- man of the London County Council i'rain- ij,- College. In an her connections with. these offices she had always found every* body "awfully nice." Witness said she went into diiTerent De- partments of the Air Ministry and tiheir systems with the Master-General of Per- soniiol, her desire bein, to kn ).7 how far her responsibility extended. On May 13th, 1918, she took up her duties at the Hotoi Cecil, and almost immediately found thi; trere was no organisation at all. There was no proper registry, and no system of filing letters that sho could discover. SI;2 could not get any information whatever. She trilxl to obtain lists and o forth, hut received nothing satisfactory or reliable. I A "TERRIBLE REPUTATION." One incident was related by Miss Doug- la: Pennant which was the first intimation that there was any }>ersorial feeling against Iter. "1 went to see Sir W. A. Robin- ton. Secretary of the Air Ministry, ro garding my transfer to the W.R.A.F. Ha said, 'Oh I know a!l about you. You are always quarrelling with everybody.' 'J'hat ••as about the end of May. I Ir..ughûd to tl ink I had such a terrible reputation, an J rather though; the Commission had some disagreement- with me. lcli(I not wish to take it as a personal matter." Sho saw Sir W. A. Robinson once again. ;-nd a.,k-ed him to obtain the services of a clerk for her. Ho promised, but did not get one. That, she believed, was just ptior to her dismissal. Miss Douglas Pennant said she visited Hampton Court and other hostels where Wrafs were mobilised, that she rr,,i-At investigate their conditions. In one she found shower baths between the dining- room and the kitchen, arid certainly did not. think that a proper place for them (laughter). I INADEQUACY OF ACCOMMODATION On resumption after luncheon. Mr Stuart Bevan continued the eXllmnation of Miss Douglas Pcpnant, and rsked her particular- !y about tho difficulties which she exper- ienced in finding accommodation for mem- bers of the W.R.A.F. during the time shj was at the Ministry. In regard to w 3, particular house she went to sec, she found it most unsuitable. It A-at; da!lc and im- possible for human habitation. It was like a slum. Aner, floor was begun to be put in, but that would not remedy the posi- tion. Later ln [, vc houses were taken in Queen'sgate, and were intended to be used as hostels. They were ::ot suitable. They had huge plate glass windows, nut the real reason w n v they were nnsuithc was that they had most inadequate kitchens, dark and smaii. Tho engineers -had got oil-, plans to knock the live houses into on,) She expressed her views on those houses to Co1. Bersey, who, she thought, was the head of department which had tfie matter •:i hand. He did not at that stage dis- abuse her mind of that impression. The question of accommodation, Miss Douglas Pennant proceeded tc say. was very urgent. She heard abo it. Rerridgoi House. She went down to see it with Col Bersey, and thought it most foiitab'e Col. Bersey appeared to lie delighted with it. She heard later on that it had been taken for another purpose, but it was, in her view. more suitabtc for a place of training. Ultimately Itere scheme as to Berridgo House was carried out. More accommodation was urgently needed for the training of probationary officers, and c-ho sought to securo it. I UNSATISFACTORY CAMPS. Mr Stuart Bevan: When you went lo the Air Ministry did you sugjist to Col Bersey hat you should \isit seme of the hosteis and camps? Mi.~s Douglas Pennant: I did She visi- ted a number of camps, f artie- ilarly in the South West. She did not nn, these sati s factory, and in some cases thv-y were bad and insanitary. as th,o oYcrCTOwdin. In many of the camps the women wore coming in from a iong d' tance. It was not a Caso) of overcrowding. There was no t-ion. TItjc was no place for he women te. cook (heir food, no restaurant Miss Douglas Pennant added that in a number of cases the women Wf re pr'):'A!y over- worked. In further ev'dence Miss Douglas Pen- iu.nt sail, that on ari inspection of camps in the South-Western area she was dissatis- fied with what she had scec. Some of tlhc cooks were -without overalls You, therefore, realised that :t was ne- cessary to take most. urgent and ivimedi- atc steps to secure a proper numlcr of officers 7- Y e. Did you fonTI an estimate as to how many women officers it would he reccssary for you to gci into training as soon as )>oss:i.!c? — L did. It was calculated that we should have 90,000 on the strength, and that we rhoukl require 3000 officers. Lord Denbigh: Who was in authority ■when there were no women offirors ?-Th.e Adjutant or the C.O. Mr Bevan On your return did ou dis- cuss this question of officers' training with Sir Godfrey Paine ?-I did, a.nd tsked him that we. might have an iostel for 180 or 3C0 women at a time. And he told you that >ou eo,Ol have a training hostel?—Yes. Did you got it?—No. Did you ask for an indent for hormw? Y es, and wc found a place where officers could be trained. Witness went on to speak of being present when Major Cock- burn delivered a lecture to tho off< ers of the \RA I' and gave general directions to them. Sl.c- went en to say that an ar- rangement was come to wIth Sir Godfrey Taiao as to her position, but 't was never embodied iri the latest version t;.f F-S 14. "BLL E" VERSCS "KHAKI I As to doth ing, to avoid delay you visi- ted the Clothing Dc-partment yourself?— Ye-s I Maior Cockbum about it. tund ho l-o'd rue- what his position as to cloth- ing was. I taw patterns fllld samplers, and tailors wcre, brought who maoei the uni- forms. Steps were taken to mllke the I uniforms speedily, but 1 did not get them. i c hose the material I- ww told they would be "all right," l-ut they never came, an J, making every allowance for war time, I cam, to the conclusion that there must be some, hitch. The. women rcsetnted not having their uniforms. On many oc- c;tsicgis the.r v. ent, and I had to endeavour to settle the disputes. Did a question arise as to th.» ffbstitu- tion of "blue" for "khaki?"—Yes Did that facilitate mutters?—No Tho Queen was asked to see the actual uniforms made for different ranks. She sathem, and next evening I was tcld hy Colonel 3cm-.y something about the cloth. He said tho blue cloth was a mistake. I then went to -ee Sir Godfrey Paine cn the mat- Iter, and I represented to him that I could not be responsible for the vi.ing. He was aware of the feeling amongst tSie women as to the blue colour, and I asked his permission to revert to kheki, and he ga.-e it. As to th ? joint scheme, did you take it to Col. Bersey early in .Tune?—I did. Miss Douglas Pennant described her action in telephoning to the National Health Assur- ance Association in Wales for rs si stance, asking for Mr Havward. Did he come?—Yes, for a few diays at first, and he set to work under Col. Ber- sey's instructions. On the 7th June, did you all move into Dukc-street?— Yes; and I met Col. Bersey in his room. I reported to the M.G.P. that this joint scheme was proposed, and he said he wished to have it at ortoe. After some discussion I and Col. Bersey started to have the scheme written out, but. while Col. Bersey was writing and wo were dis- cussing General Livingstono cams in-4this was at about half-past ten or eleven. Capt. Ferry was there also, and after a general conversatiom General Livingstone and CoiL Bersey wont: by themselves to one end of the room. I do not know what was said. I After they had conversed together Ihey Jj left the room. j I "DIPLOMATIC INDISPOSITION." ] Lord Wrcnbury took up with Mr Bevan the point of -unnecessary details being gono into whica had no real offects on the re- sults. There wero so many minor points being brought up. said his Lordship, that could be left out altogether, and a saving of time be made. Miss Douglas Pennant .spoke of lier inter- view with General Livingstone when Col. Bersey was away ill. This drew from Lord Denbigh the query as to whether Mr Bevan was suggesting that Col. Bersey bad sudd?nJy taken a diplomatic inds. pogition," the point in question being whe- ther hia absence was hoMing up matters desired by Miss Douglas Pennant to be executed without delay. This was after Sir Godfrey Pain0 had been called to France a.nd General Livingstone had assumed his duties. Mr Stuart fievan I say it was a com- plete attempt to delay the proceedings and to prevent the oo oj>erafciou of other bodies. Witness referred .0 a threatened strike among W.R.A.F. at t!:e Kegont's Park die- pot, which was averted by her going amongst the women listening to their complaints, and promising that they would bo taken tiQ immediately. Corning to the question of the f-vo lad- ies for wom appoint-went-s had been pro- mised without Mi3 Duglas Pennant's ad- vice or recommendation, witness said Col. Bersey asked her to recomtiiond tiiem, but, owing to their inexperience, &hc formei! the opinion that in the interests of the ladies themselves and of the Service they should not be appointed to the [xist.; in question. AN INTERRUPTION. I The names and occupations of the ladies was asked for by a member of the Com- mittee, and on that of Miss Leonard boo ing announced, an interruption took place by a lady in the witness enclosure asking if she might bo allowed to speak at that moment The Chairman: 011. no! Iv.ease sit down. It was underslood that 1-fic lacty was Miss Leonard, described 'by Miss Douglas Pen- nant as a superintendent of typists on the Air staff. Witness paid tho Tve ladies handed in their resignations as a result of her protest She tried to persuade them to withdraw, I explaining that in her view fthey should take less responsible portions for a start MORE RESIGNATIONS. I The next incident described by witness was her visit, to Sir Godfrey Paine to re- port the resignations of Miss Pratt, Mrs Beatty, end Miss Taylor. Col. Bersey came into this room, and said he knew about the matter, though there was no ob- vious reason why he should, considering that the ladies were not in his depart- ment. "On July 2ntl I ^ave my account; of what 'ad happened to Lord Weir; that was tho first time I had w en him. I told tiiiii f was willing that (he resignations should be withdrawn, and that these, ladies phould continue to work. Lord Weir in- sisted! on the resignations being accepted, and said h. wished me to be in command of the W.R.A.F. A minute was written in Sir Godfrey Paines room informing the ladies that their resignations were accep- ted. but they were to carry on their pre- sent duties until relieved. They came to the office next day, but after that, wibh- out any explanation, they remained away." Mr Stuart Devan said he would go through the specific complaints mentioned in Miss Pratt's letter. TO the first point, a complaint of overwork, witness replied that they wer-, aU overwrkod. The Chairman What i3 the purpose of this extrrtiiat:oll" I do not. understand Miss Pratt to say it was the fault of her Commandant. In substance eite says: "I was overworked, and I had no power to remedy evils. I do not attach any im- portance to that. Counsel: Then I shaH not pursue it. But I should lÙ(> to know something about the painful iltft'rvï.,w with Miss Douglas Pen- nant of which Miss Pratt speaks Wit ness, I have no knowledge at all. I I paw her rur a few minutes and r..kl-cd hor the reason of her resignation, raying I was cpiito in the dark. As to the alleged pa,inful interview I merely said: "I can't understand how you could have thought it necessary to liantf mo that pi-ce. of paper. What has caused this srddlen re- vulsion of feeling?" She than asked me for leave. I said [ was sorry, but there vva,s a minute forbidding leave encept in case of sick leave. Sho seemed very much hurt that I would not do what she w anted. Witness described an interview with Gul. Bersey on July "3rd. "He catno to my room, and aid he was going to tell Sir Godfrey Paine that ho would resign unless I left. Never before had ho suggested cither tha.t he should resign or that I should go. He had always seemed to be all right with me. I never suspected any- thing. I asked him whatever waj hap- pening. Lord Kintore: I am afraid that was a frequent exclamation of yours daught;cr). Mr Stuart Bevan: Hhose surprise's were frequent. Tho examination of Miss Douglaa Pen- nant had not concluded when tho Com- mittee adjourned. YESTERDAY'S PROCEEDINGS. I Yesterday, the third day of the inquiry into the dismissal of Miss Douglas Pennant, formerly Commandant of the W.R.A.F., showed no diminution in public, imteirest, the committee-roam boing crowd- ed to an uncomfortable degree, and the general public being represented almost entirely by ladies. At the opening of the proceedings Mr Rigby Swift, for the Air Ministry, otaked that he had made inquiries and ascertained that there was no meeting of tho Air Council, and that it was a mistake on the part of General Brancker when he said it was a decision of the Air Council that Miss Douglas Pennant should go. In re-examination by Mr Stuart Bevan, Miss Douglas Pennant said that sho saw Colonel Bersey constantly, and on one oooaaiom he told her he would never havo roapecited her unless she had made the stand which she did make. Referring to the three ladies who re- signed, Miss Douglas Pennant said that idie found th, Y had left arrears of work behind them. The Chairman: Not surpristing, I sup- pose? Miss Douglas Pennant: No. "On July 14th," 3aid Miss Douglas Pennant, Dame Katherine Furze came to see me and spoke about the resignation of Mrs Beatty. I explained the whole oircumstancefl of it and my bewilderment as to why Mrs Beatty had resigned "Dame Katherine Furze showed me that she was very much annoyed with me. I asked her if she could tell me why Mrs Boatty had resigned, but she would give me RO direct answer. She left me quite convinced that she thought I had done something, and I wanted to know what about this time. I found that Dame Furze was communicating with Colonel Bersey about matters concerning my de- partment. They wore matters which she, as Commandant of the W.R.N.S., should have discussed with mü, and that did not facilitate the working of the department. "Colonel Bed-sey put forward the sug- gestion that the Wrens and the Wrafs should be amalgamated. Dame Furze had aJso" (witness said) written to Lord Werr, behind her back, on the same sub ject. An arrangement was made whereby temporarily the Wrens were to supply officers for the Wrafs." Miss Douglas Pennant next dealt with an interview that took place between her- self, Dame Katherine Furze, and Sir God- frey Paine. At that interview Dame Furze abused a Mrs Uifford Beckett, one of the witness's officer, and added, "She" (turning to witness) "has been the means of Mrs Beatty, one of my most valuable oiffcers, resigning." The further evidence of Miss Douglas Pennant revealed the fact that there was a groat deal of "tittle-tattle" going on between the different officials at tho Hotel Oooil, the headquarters of the Wrafs. Thero wasxa dispute between witness and Dame Furze over Mrs Clifford Beckett's competence. Dame Furze abused Mrs Ohfrard-Beckett far her incompetence, and the Assistant "Director of the Wrens cørti. field that the lady was a most competent officer. Dame Furze also alleged tJMt

I ANGLESEY POLICE COMMITTEE. AN EX SERGrEANT-S CLAIM TO FULL PENSION. CFrom Our Own Refiorter). A meeting of this Committee was held yesterday at Llai>gefni, Mr W. Edwards (chairman) presided, and the attendance inoluded Sir R. H. Williams-Bulkoley, Baat., Sir W. B. Hughes-Hunter, Bart., Ooilonel T. E. J. Lloyd, Dr. E. Williams, Dr. T. Jones, Messrs H. Thomas, R. W, Roberts, R. E. Jones, S. T. Oh ad wick, T. Williams, It. O. Pierce, D. J. Elias, W. D. Jones, W. Hughes Jones, Lewis Hughes, H. R. Davies, R. Lewis Edwards, W. T%xnas, and John Joms, with the Clerk (Mr Walter 0. Jones) the Chief- Cfansbable tMr R, H. Prothero), and the Surveyor (Mr W. E. Jonee). CHIEF-CONSTABLRS REPORT. Mr Prothero presented his quarterly re- port and summary of crime returns. He also stated that the county was free from all diseases under the Contagious D i seases (Animals) Act.. REST DAYS AND HOLIDAYS. The Inspector of Constabulary had re- quested the Chief-Constable to bring to the rtotioo of the Committee the Police Weekly Rest Day Act-, 1910, and hoped they would adopt it without delay. The Representative Board in connection with the county farce also requested the immediate ailoption of the Act, that the day's rest be spent at their disposal, and that the annual loave be increased to four- teen days. The Chief-Con stable explained that the Act referred to provided that every oon- stable (not being above tho rank of in- spector) be allowed at IOMt fifty-two days in a year on which he was not required to perform police duty, save on occasions of emergency. It had boon adopted by the Standing Joint Police Committees of Car- narvon, Denbigh, Merioneth, and Mont- gomery, to tho extent that each man re- ceived 52 days leave each year, viz., one day off duty out of every nine days and 14 days' annual leave. In reply to Mr Thomas Williams, the Chief-Constable sa,id it was not compulsory to allow a weekly holiday. After a discussion, the matter was de- ferred. tho Chief-Constable having stated that he would require three more men in the force to carry out the provisions of the Aot. APPLICATION BY AN EX- SERGEANT. A letter was road from the Private Sec- retary to H.R.H. tho Prince of Wales, to- gether with a petition signed by ex-Ser- goant Thomas Hugh, in which he applied to tho Prippo of Wales to grant him a King's Counsellor to fight his case for a full pension, and the value of what ho alleged ho was deprived of. The peti- tioner stated that he was 56 years of age, had served in the Anglesey Force- over twenty years. He now resided ia Canada, with his wife and live children. In 1906 he waa injured1 through a broken lander failing on his head, and as he was con- sidered incapacitated for further duty he was superannuated. A subsequent appli- cation for reinstatement was refused. The Lord-Lien-tenant said he wa.s chair- i man of the Committee that dealt with the matter in 1907. Full payment for partial disablement was made, and all doctor's biBB paid, as tho Committee came to the conclusion that the injury w&s caused by tho landev failing, and that the Commit- tee was responsible for the defeat. They recommended everything they could under the existing regulations. On tho motion of Dr. T. Jones, second- ed by Sir W. Hughes-Hun ter, it was left to the Clerk to explain the circumstances in reply to tho letter. A YEAR SHORT? It was reported that Sergeant Evan Wil. liams, Holyhead, retired from the foroe on tho 10th instant, having completed 29 years' service. He applied for, and was entitled to a pension of RZ 15s per we-ek, based on the new scale of pa.y. Mr H. It. Davies r<cinted out that the scale became operative after 30 years' ser- vice. How was this officer entitled to pension after. 29 yea.rs? Tho Chi cf Con sta bl e explained that the matter was under consideration by the Home Office, and it was allowed. COAL ALLOWANCES. Air Itothero had been instructed to con- sider the question of cleaning and coal allowance to members of the foroe who re- sided in County Buildings. Mr H, R. Davies pointed out that at Beaumaris there was an allowance in the scale to tho sergeant and constable, and it was decided to revise the scale to the ex- tent of deleting one of these iterns.

ANGLESEY QUARTER SESSIONS. NO CRIME IN THE COUNTY. The above were hold on Tuesday at. Llan- gefni. The Bench consisted of Sir R. H. Williams-Bulkeley. Bart-, (chairman). Col. T. R J. Lloyd (deputy chairman), Sir Thomas TTeavc, Uart., 6Tr tv. B. Hughes Hunter, Bart., Col. L. O. Williams, Dr. R. Williams, Dr. T. Jones, Messrs H. H. Williams, li Hughes, R It Jones, J. II. Burton, J. C. Jones, W. Hughes Jones, W. Jt. Jones (Beau>- maris), H. O. Hughes, II. Thomas, O. It. Williams, O. Trevor Williams. J. It. Williams, and D. Jones (Holyhead). The Chairman was presented by the Clerk of the l'eace (Mr Walter O. Jones), with a. pair of white gloyei to mark: the absence or crime in t-he county, The court passed votes of sympathy with the families of tho late Mr O. E. Jonees, Amlwch, and Mr J. G. Jones, Cemacs, whose plai-es on the Anglesey Joint Police Commit- tee were filled by the appointment of Messrs John Jones. N.P. Bank, Llangefni, and Wm. Thomas. Amlwch. It was resolved that, the guinea fee allowed prosecuting solicitors be doubled. The following were re-appointed to act aS visitors of licensed houses: Messrs J. H. Dur- ton, W. Hughes Jones, Thomas Williams. Dr. T. Jones ana Dr. J. Lewis Owen, and Mrs Fox Pitt and Miss Davies, Treborth, were aajn ackietl to the above as visitors of in. stitutions for defectives.

PRESENTATION TO DR. JOHN WILLIAMS, BRYNSIENCYN. At the Anglesey Monthly Meeting of the Wefish Calvimstic Methodists, held at Ty- mawr, on Monday, an illuminated album was presented on if half of the Monthly Meeting to the Rev. John Williams, D.D. He was ordained a minister of the con- nexion forty years ago, and at n Monthly Meeting held at Ncwoorough last April tho Rev. T. C. Williams suggested that it would be a fitting occasion upon which to express tho appreciation by the connex- ion of the varied and invariable sendees l h e ,?uggei- rendered by Dr. Williams. The sugges- tion was at once enthusiastically taliori up and a committee appointed. In tho unavoidable absence of the T. C. Willisrns, chairman of the conl- mittee, the Rev. W. Roberts (Gorslwyd) mado the presentation on behalf of the Monthly Meeting. Dr. Williams said he appreciated beyond words the brotherly and tender feelings which prompted the gift. Apart from the ton or eleven years spent a* rku,or of tho Prince's-road Welsh CaJviristio Methodist Church, Liverpool, he had passed all his life in Anglesey, and that day he naturally found himself in a reminiscent mood. With all his heart, he thanked them for what they had done, and he locked for- wa.rd "with pleasure to spending tho rest of his days with them.

PUSSYFOOT CAMPAIGN "AN ALIEN CONSPIRACY." Hie Licensed Victuallers' Defenco League, at Llandudno on Wednesday, con- demned the "Pussyfoot" campaign as a.r. tilien conspiracy, and c > pressed antagonism to brewers forcing thoir tenants to accept positions as managers.

while serving in tho Wrens 800 ha-d dis- missed Mrs Clifford-Beckett, but this she denied. In reaponso to furthar questivons, Miss Douglas Pennant said that instructions were given by Colonel Bersey and others, purporting to oome from her, whioh were not hers at all.

1 Portrait of Mr Georce Ballan- tirne. 117. Hailiburton-plaico. Gaiastiiele, who writes:- "Several years ago a dug bit me on tilet lutt, and each euccoeaiug year the sore broke out atresh, and sores also broke out at otner parts of my leg. 1 tried various remedies, and had the Doctor attending mo, but all to no purpose. in April, 1913, 1 started to take Clarke s ttiood Mixture. With ths first bulUt) 1 ten much improved id my general Health wtun the swelling 10 I my leg had decrwaseJ. This encour- aged ilio to persevere till June of the same year, by which time 1 bad taken nine bottles, with tatt nappy result tnat 1 waa able to resume my work, since when I have not, btA!u a day off. it is now over clgbt. month* eiace, and there is no sign of the trouble return- ing. The eweUmgs have entirely dis- appeared, and i feet like a different person." CJ-AftKE'S BLOOD MIXTURE, by reason of ita remarkable blood purify- ing properties can be relied upon to "ive speedy relief and lasting benefit in all cases of Eczema, tScrofula, bcuny, Bad Legs, Abscoseoa, Boils. Pimples, Sores and Eruptions, Piles, Glandular Swel- lings, Rheumatism, Gout, etc. Plea- sant to take, and tree from anything injurious. Ask for nnd see 300 get Clarke's Blood Mixture I "IIVIIIIVBODY'. B1.00D PURIFIER" < ) t Of all Cilemom and Stores, 2fe lid pet II Bottle. I I f. m 634 ø I ,1  ?fL-,j-? [ ? ???  I ,r; 1 ?/6 j j  I | F'TU j m bUit, rn  I U c;t. ¡ I I ;.mm: I wili fit YOU. Built up to a st?nd?rd. not B II down to a price, and Every pair y  's guaranteed. M S Fitu Mfdets—to fit every type of f?ure H Nf made from prc WM Quality materials «[} throughout. are the smartest. most service- H S able. and most economical corSets D {jjj obt:uMb[e. Entirely British, 9| | From 4/111 to 23/6  fAsk a local draper to show tbem, or |l write for Illustrated Folder to the makers || ? ChappeH Allen & Co., Ltd., 1 | I-itu House, S, Well St..London, E.C.i | Deafness, Head Noises, Throat and Nasal Trouble, And other Symtoms due to Loss of Hearing. The World-Wide Success of "MACKAIRS AURALINE" as a Curative Agent in these Painful and Distressing Disorders is Testi. fied by the Numerous Grateful Letters the Proprietors Receive Daily from Cure d Sufferers. Established since 1890. It ia unquestionably one of the Few Remedies of the kind that does all that 13 claimed for it. Sold by all Chemists at 3s, or aMtt direct from the Laboratories. THE MACKAY REMEDY Co., 106 Liverpool Rd., Islington London. Caution—Reject Worthless Substitutes. -———————— Splendid Welsh Testimony. Anglesey Mother and Son Cured of Eczema by Zam-Buk. Started with Itchy Pimples. For nine months Mrs C. J. Hughes was a martyr to dry eczema, and it waa not until she used: Zam-Buk that the distress- ing ekin disease was banished. Relating tho story of her wonderful cure to a re- presentative of the Carnarvon Herald, Sirs Hughes, who lives at Glan Cors, LJan- drygarn, olI'. Llanerchj medd, Anglesey, said:—> "Tiny pimples came on my hands, accom- panied by intense itching. Soon a liery rash broke out, and afterward s spread to my face. Tho affccted parts were very red, and full of inflammation. There was no discharge, but little scales came over my hands and face. Several remedies re- commended by neighbours proved unsuc- cessful, and I continued to be disfig-iireci and inconvenienced by the irritating ec/ema. "ly sister then recommended Zam-Bu. and as I had read in the newspapers about it., healing powers, I was bent on trying this balm. The very first dressings of Zam-Buk did my face and hands a lot of good. The irritation died away, and thero was a distinct improvement noticeable after each application of Zam-Buk. The itchy scallos fell away and rcyealod new healthy skin. "Zam-Buk completely rid me of the eczema 3 years ago, and my skin has been. &car and healthy ever since. "When my little boy had eczema on his faco, Zam-Buk again proved a jxrfecfc healer." The same wonderful healing which Mrs Hughes and her little boy got from Zam- nuk is assured to all who use this puro herbal balm. Zam-Buk is a healing sub. stance quite out of the ordinary, being composed of certain rare and va?uab? herbal extracts. Zam-Buk is altogether different from mere ointments, and 3 en- tirely free from rancid animal fats and all mineral potson?. Sold in h 3d and 3s boxes—larger si«3 containing nearly four times the small size —by an Chemists and Stores, or direct from The Zam-Buk Laboratories. Loea*