PAY AND ALLOWANCES.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16216, 20 May 1918, Page 6

PAY AND ALLOWANCES.

SECOND DIVISION COMMENT.

(PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.)

WELLINGTON. Mav 19. '

Referring to figures published by the Defenco Department showing that New Zealand leads other parts of the British Empire in regard to pay and allowances to solders and dependants, Mr authorities were only then about to call of tho Second Division League, stated last night night that the other Dominions had not yet reached the problems New Zealand was now facing, So far as Australia was concerned, it wan only necessary to remind the people of New Zealand that even single men in the Commonwealth could pleaso them< selves whether they went to tho war or not.

Canada, apparently, had not yet made any call on married reservists, as it was only n few davs ago a oaolegram announced, that the Canadian authorities wore only then about to call up men botiween 20 «nd 23. Canada, therefore, apparently had wrt yet reached the position New Zealand was in. Twelve months ago, it had to be remembered, the New Zealand separation allowance for a wifo was 7s per week as against Canada's £1 Os lOd. Another recent message from Canada stated that the pay was to bo considerably increased. It was ridiculous for the New Zealand Defence Department to suggest that the poopla of Canada would ask a soldier's wifo with < five children to exist on a total allowance of £1 Os lOd per week, plus allotments from her husoand's pay, r

So fnr as Great Britain was concerned, tho conditions could not be compared- Great Britain's civil population was apparently completely organised for war purposes, hor pil'noipal industries being nationalised under Stnto control for the war period. Profiteering had boen effectively dealt witji, and if reports were to fce * believed the whole of the peoplo were on rations. In Great Britain tlwrc was at least some measure of equality of sacrifice. It would bo time to ' compare the British soldiers' flav with our own men when, the Government of this country adopted the general war legislation of Great Britain, and when steps were taken to ensure that tlio whole of the sacrifice did not fall uppn the man who was found medically fit to serve his country. There was no reason why New Zealand should cot continue to lead, and if hy that leadership she assisted in breaking down the, precedents and prejudices of other countries and induced the prevention of a repetition of the administrative mi»V takes of other warn, the greator would be the credit to the peonle and Government of this country.