Single Scale Delays Forces Pay Review

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30715, 2 April 1965, Page 3

Single Scale Delays Forces Pay Review

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, April 1.

One of the main objects of the current review of armed services’ pay and conditions is to introduce a single pay code and comparable conditions of service for the Army, Navy and Air Force. >

But the combined services pay committee —which is holding the review —is experiencing difficulties in “ironing out” traditional inter-service differences.

The Minister of Defence (Air Eyre), explaining that the three services each had their own distinct code of pay and conditions, said tonight that obviously a single pay code and comparable conditions for all three services would be very desirable.

“Accordingly, it was prescribed as one of the objects of the current review,” he said.

“However, the inter-service differences were so numerous and traditional that the task of ironing them out could only be done stage by stage. “I have made it clear to all concerned that I attach great importance to the review, and I am anxious to bring it before the Government at the earliest possible moment. “At the same time, I appreciate that many complex issues concerning the conditions of service of all three branches of the armed forces must be resolved first.” During the last eight years, the composition, equipment, and roles of the individual services had changed—calling for new specialised trades and skills. These factors, coupled with current recruiting difficulties, had necessitated the comprehensive and largescale review now being undertaken.

Mr Eyre said over the years, the salary increases granted to other State employees had been extended to servicemen —but no review of armed service salary structures and conditions of service on their own merits had been attempted since 1956.

To illustrate the magnitude and complexity of the subject, Mr Eyre said there were no less than 180 different rates of pay for Army privates

alone. These depended on whether they were married or single, lived in or lived out, were graded from basic to four-star—“and so forth.” He said the same variety of differentials applied to noncommissioned officers. “That is the situation in the Army, whereas Navy and Air Force rates are different again,” he said. Besides the basic pay rates, there were some 50 different types of allowance—applicable in different ways to each of the three services. These included allowances for rations, lodging, marriage, separation, uniform

upkeep, good conduct, gratuities, re-engagement, and tropical. Mr Eyre said all the relevant data had been completed by the committee, and a full set of proposals had been drawn up in a report dealing with Regular Force personnel.

“A supplementary report covering women’s services and territorials will also soon be ready.”

200-Page Report

Mr Eyre said the main report was a detailed document of 200 pages.' It was now being examined by the Defence Office and the Treasury. “A preliminary examination has revealed that as the report broke away from many of the established principles and features of the old system, a considerable amount of work has yet to be done before it can be submitted to the Government for consideration.”