Without getting into great detail, the response was usually that we didn't pull the budget out our asses, there were volumes about mess administration and NPF accounting that we adhered to and it was from the budget that the rate of mess dues was determined.
Well that's the rub, ain't it?
I'm familiar with how messes and their budget works, I've been the Treasurer more than once. I've no doubt many people asked and were told "no, it's legit," but did anybody grieve it? All I've ever seen anyone point to is "you have to be a member of the mess." With all the "detailed" regulations involved, and the many queries, you would think someone would easily be able to point out where the CDS is authorized to issue a legal debt to someone for NPF purposes... maybe even some rules around what they can or can't do, i.e. can't issue a debt to a single individual, must be a whole membership, maximums up to x.
I can't find any previous cases on the external military grievance committee's page.
Seems entirely implausible that they would be given the authority to unilaterally levy a debt of $1,000,000 dollars against Pte Bloggins.
The Base Comd does not get any of his authorities from a mess committee. The Mess Committee gets their authority from the Base Comd. He can't delegate an authority he doesn't have. Financial authorities don't work off of "you can't do 'x'," they specifically authorize you to do "x,y,z" and if it's not x,y,z, you can't do it.
Your Military Law reference again just talks about collecting debts, it doesn't address anything about issuing them.
If you think you have a legitimate argument that you can not be compelled to pay mess dues, fill your boots and try it out. My personal opinion is that messes as currently constituted have passed their best before date.
I share a similar opinion, and some stuff is getting out of control with NPP. I used the example of a unit fund going into massive debt and the idea of levying all the soldiers say, a one-time payment of $100, as an example for a reason.