SOLDIERS' GRATUITY

Evening Post, Volume XCVIII, Issue 114, 11 November 1919, Page 7

SOLDIERS' GRATUITY

DEMAND FOB CASH INSTEAD OF

BONDS

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SYDNEY, sth November. - , A position that is in come ways very, amusing is developing as a result of tha soldiers' demand for a" war gratuity.

New Zealand and Canada are held .to be responsible for having "woke it up."' The average Australian soldier, who had, enjoyed liberal pay and abundant food and clothes, and was in most cases collecting a substantial sum in deferred vsty, was offering no complaint. But the decision of New Zealand to pay a gratuity aroused the demand in A"ustralia.' The Government hesitated, for some time, and finally announced that a gratuity would be paid, but in interest-bear-ing, non-negotiable bonds. Those who saw what1 went on behind the scenes thought that the Government had negotiated a dilemma -very well, all things considered. The. elections are approaching, and this Government, if it: goes back tc power, will go back on the votes of the returned.soldiers. . ..They' represent the great turn-over yote.jvhich,.-, for. twenty years, has swung! Australian. Governments from Liberal to Labour,1 .'■ ■and from Labour Liberal.,;,, Tlid^iGii-'i yernment knew this-7-and-.kne\v thai* 'iif! it did not promise a war gratuity, then Labour Party would, and so win the eleoy; tions. -On the. otherhand, the .Govern-, nient, search as it might, could.see"no;l way of raising the £25,000,000 required if the gratuity was to be promptly paid.1'; So the device of issuing bonds was adonted. „;■ . ./.■■•.■'■'.'.

The Labour Party has promptly de-'* cried the bond idea, and. says tliat'.iheV soldiers are being .very harshly treated,:iand should have cash; even if'it-has-tof be forcibly taken; out of the pockets; of J the profiteer, whom they protected. : The/ more sheep-like soldiers have seized on: this specious pleading, .'and-'now. soldiers"* meetings all over the country are de'-',* manding a cash gratuity, greatly to/the' embarrassment of Mr. Hughes. • The': Labour leaders are busily :working on'; the. soldiers' demand, for .cash—but,.'-pf' ( ' course, give no indication of where the; cash will come from.

Mr, Hughes is now pleading with the soldiers. ( He declares the scheme cannot be 'financed in ■ any other ■ way, except as suggested.' The payment is-to be Is 6<J per day from embarkation. .W armistice, and the bonds can be lieed as ■cash for "all piirposes under the Repatriation Department, such as buying "businesses, farms, houses, or furniture. Australia's share of-the German war indemnity, payable in 1921, and estimated at from £7,000,000 to £15,000,000, ia to be earmarked for the redemDtion of the bonds. If, the indemnity does not reach £10.000,000 the Government will make good the deficiency up to £10,000,000, and to redeem any balance after 1921 in three (equal annual instalments. The bonds will be cashed by the Treasury in cases of special urgency. There is going to be some brigk bidding for the soldiers' votes.