SOLDIERS’ ASSISTANCE BOARD

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23883, 27 February 1943, Page 4

SOLDIERS’ ASSISTANCE BOARD

ADJUSTMENTS ON NEW PAY SCALE (P.A.) WELLINGTON, February 25. The work of the Soldiers’ Financial Assistance Board was briefly reviewed by the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser), when the House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. to-day. in replying to three urgent questions on the matter by Mr H. G. Dickie (National. Patea), Mr W. M. C. Denham (Labour. Invercargill), and Mr W. T. Anderton (Labour, Eden).

Mr Fraser, who replied to all three questions as one, said that the duty of the board was to see that, on the balance between civil and military incomes. no undue financial hardship was continued. The general increases in military pay and allowances last November automatically affected many previous decisions of the board, and a scries of reviews had been made, and where it was considered that the original hardship had been eased, a reduction in the quantity of assistance granted by the board was ordered. He had been assured that, except in one or two cases, the reductions ordered had not equalled, much less exceeded, the cash value of the increases in pay and allowances.

Replying to an interjection by Mr J. A. Lee (Democratic Labour. Grey Lynn), who asked if it was the aim to make the income up to what it was before enlistment. Mr Fraser said it was not possible to make up to everybody the incomes they had before enlisting. What the board did was to make up to the soldier certain payments for which he was responsible, such as insurance. If the basic pay was inadequate, it was the duty of the House of Representatives and the Government to rectify the position. It was also possible that some consideration might have to be given to an increase in domestic allowances, and he would discuss that phase with the board.