NAVAL MEN'S PAY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 146, 22 June 1945, Page 7

NAVAL MEN'S PAY

N.Z. PERSONNEL ABROAD EXPLANATION BY MINISTER P.A. WELLINGTON, this day. New Zealand naval personnel serving overseas would not receive the war service increment, Japanese campaign pay and Far Eastern allowances, said the Minister t of Defence, Mr. Jones, in replying to an inquiry last night. He explained that New Zealand personnel received the. New Zealand rates of pay and allowances, which were increased from June, 1944. These rates compared more than favourably with the rates of pay in the Royal Navy.

Many men serving overseas received one shilling a day deferred pay and, in addition, were free from taxation, said the Minister. This applied also to long service personnel, as distinct from personnel serving for hostilities only. However continuous service personnel serving in New Zealand were liable to pay income tax. The Minister further stated that all Royal Navy personnel were subject to income tax, but New Zealand personnel serving overseas were exempt. Members of the. Royal Australian Navy serving in the same area as the New Zealand ships received Australian rates of pay and were not granted war increments, Japanese campaign pay or Far Eastern allowances. Another advantage, said the Minister, was that the Government proposed to pay those serving overseas the war gratuity of £3 15/ a month, and those serving in New Zealand 20/ a month.