THE GOVERNMENT WAR BONUS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3106, 9 June 1917, Page 6

THE GOVERNMENT WAR BONUS

PROTEST BY EDUCATION BOAHD. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Chrisfchurch, June 8. At to-day's meeting of tho Canterbury Education Board, Mr. E. H. Andrews referred to the war bonus granted to Civil Servants. Ho understood 'the war bonus was to be repeated again this year, and he thought the board should vehemently protest. These were hard and difficult times, and large numbers of people were at their wit's end to make both ends meet; yet the Government had given half a million-to people who did not need it. No other act of the Coalition Government had called forth such condemnation as this one. Many of the teachers themselves had expressed abhorrence of (he bonus, saying that they regarded.it as "blood money." Some of them bad given it away to. charity. It was a premium given to shirkers. Many of their best teachers had enlisted and were risking life and everything else for tho Empire, while those who stayed at homo had been given increased salaries. Ha hoped the board would vigorously protest against the proposal to givo tho bonns again this year. He moved: "That this, board emphatically protests against the. repetition of-the payment of tho bonus to teachers and Civil Servants, and that this resolution be sent to Ministers and members of Parliament." The motion was carried, the chairman and two other members voting against it.