ARMY PAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 267, 10 November 1937, Page 8

ARMY PAY.

GOVERNMENT POLICY. "DOING THE FAIR THING." (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Tuesday. The Government's policy regarding | rates of pay for the regular force* was briefly outlined by the Minister of De- [ fence, Mr. Jones, when replying to questions raised by members of the Opposition during the discussion on the Army Estimates in the House of Representatives to-day. The Minister said that lie had had a committee dealing with the rates of pay, and its report had been brought down. When considering that report the Government had to take into consideration the fact that at the present time the reclassification of the Public Service was taking place. If they said now that they were going to increase the rates of pay because they were too low when compared with the Civil Service, the whole position would have to be reconsidered when the reclassification came "lit. The Government had decided that the question of increases of pay for all ranks should be dealt with at the same time as the reclassification was being dealt with. We are not responsible for the existing rates „f pay," said the Minister. "I am anxious to do the fair thing for the men, but if the men are satisfied to pay their £10 and get out, that is a mutter for themselves. Some think that now that the depression is over there are ..pporturiitioH outside the service to do better for themselves. We are sorry to th ™< b,,t they may be sorry that they left the regular forces, because there are good opportunities for promotion to higher rank within the arrvice. *