Colonel Millsasked the Secretary of State for War why billeting allowances for soldiers are to be increased to 30s. a week but only for householders who accommodate six or more men, as this is a reversal of the ordinary practice of reduction on taking a quantity and unfair to the small householder who needs equal consideration?
§ Captain MargessonThe rates payable for billeting under the Army Act have not been increased, but arrangements have been made in a few cases under which, in lieu of billeting, contracts for the accommodation and messing of soldiers will be entered into with householders whose livelihood is normally derived from the accommodation of visitors, and who suffered hardship from the prolonged billeting of Service personnel upon them. It is a condition of such contracts that the whole of their accommodation shall be reserved for soldiers and that not less than six of them shall be accommodated and fed. This number has been adopted 1203W as affording a reasonable criterion of the type of householder whom the arrangement is designed to assist.