MARRIED TRAINEES IN CAMP.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 133, 7 June 1926, Page 7

MARRIED TRAINEES IN CAMP.

FINANCIAL HARDSHIP QUESTION. MINISTER EXPLAINS POSITION". Some time ago the member for Manukau represented to the Minister of Defence that it was a hardship for men ■with dependents to spend eight days in a territorial camp for 24/, and suggested an allowance to these men similar to what was paid to soldiers with dependents during the war. As a result of inquiries on the subject the Minister, the Hon. F. J. Rolleston, has sent the following letter in reply to Mr. Jordan: "Regarding the payment of married men in camp, I have to state that as a. result of inquiries made, it is estimated that the number of married men under twenty-one years of age in the Territorial Force throughout New Zealand does not exceed 200, or approximately one per~ cent of the total strength. "If from the 200 mentioned above there is deducted tbe number whose contracts of service provide for their wages being paid without deduction for loss of time, e.g., apprentices, the small number of married territorials under twentyone years of age who would suffer financial hardship through attending camp would not appear to justify any special provision being made to reimburse them for loss of wages through performing their military obligations. "The regulations for the New Zea* land military forces provide that application for exemption from military training may be made to a magistrate by any member of the Territorial Force who considers that the requirements of such training in his case cause an undue hardship. In genuine cases the Department does not oppose such applications, and, in fact, has advised married trainees to make such application where it is known that their attendance at camp would cause hardship."