HOME DAMAGED AS L.H.Q. MESS SAYS DOCTOR

DR. A. J. FOOTE told the Army Compensation Board yesterday that after his St. Lucia home, which had been General Blamey's headquarters mess, was vacated a rat's nest was in his best carpet, a fowl run on the best site, and some household effects were damaged or missing.

By a consent assessment he was awarded £40, additional to £274 which had been allowed in a previous claim.

The Army Department had referred to the board a claim for compensation for physical damage to furniture and fittings at Dr. Foote's home, Ryan Road and Jerdanefield Street, St. Lucia. Dr. Foote ,had claimed £140/5/. The Hirings Committee had allowed £58/6/ and he claimed a balance of £70/19/ after some items had been deducted.

Paid £40 Month

Dr. Foote, who was discharged last week after six years in the A.I.F. said that his home was occupied by the Army from August, 1942, until February, 1945. When the Army occupied the University as L.H.Q., the C.O.C. had personally sought his home as a mess. Dr. Foote said he was paid £40 a month compensation by the Army. It was a big, old house, on the river bank, with tennis court and swimming pool.

The billiard room had been converted by the army into a kitchen and batman's quarters. The carpet had been ripped up, causing strips to be torn off it, and had been stored in the garage; he found a rat's nest in it. It would have cost £36 originally, but today would have been worth £90. It now had some second-hand value.

'Track Worn Round'

Claiming also for a lounge carpet, Dr. Foote said that apparently the billiard table had been shifted into the lounge, and by the look of the carpet a lot of billiards had been played. A track was worn round it. and it was of no value to him. Original cost would have been £24/1/. He had been allowed £22/10/ compensation. He had bought a carpet at £36 to replace it. His own Axminster to-day would cost £66.

Other items on his claim concerned linoleum used to line kitchen and pantry shelves and cup boards, brass door stops of antique design, and electric light fittings which had disappeared, and a loose carpet rug missing from the drawing-room.

'WAS HUGE FOWL RUN'

Dr. Foote told his counsel (Mr. F. D. Curlewis) that on the best site, on the river bank a huge fowl run had been erected, covering a quarter-acre or more.

It had been built presumably by the batman, and was left there when the Army went. He said that he spent a month's Army leave dismantling it and cleaning up the grounds generally, and claimed £12 wages he would have had to pay an employee. He had to fill in the rear of the laundry which had been excavated for a hot water system.

Dr. Foote told Mr. K. Cronin for the Army Minister that he had signed an agreement to accept £274 in final settlement, but said he had been assured he could make a supplementary claim.

Mr. Cronin: When you rent a furnished house some depreciation must take place?

Dr. Foote: Yes — but in normal circumstances you don't have people in hob-nailed boots walking on the carpet.

'Left Tacks On Floor'

Capt. A. C. Gossling, of the A.M.F. hirings section, said there was no question that the billiard room carpet had been taken up roughly and came up minus short strips where the nails had been.

'The army fellows left the tacks on the floor and took the rest of the carpet away,' he said.

Dr. Foote had signed a clearance and he had told him it would be regarded by the Hirings Committee as final, Capt. Gossling continued. Damage to the billiard-room carpet had been offset by painting work.

After discussion by the parties Mr. Cronin asked the board to make a consent assessment of £40.

Mr. G. A. Cameron, C.S.M. (chairman): As a just settlement of claim?

Mr. Cronin: Yes.

Mr. Cameron said he would send notice of the determination to the parties.

Mr. Curlewis was Instructed by Chambers, McNab, & Co.