SOLDIERS' WAGES

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3127, 4 July 1917, Page 7

SOLDIERS' WAGES

IS MILITARY, PAY ADEQUATE? At a meeting of the Second Division league last evening Mr. R. A. Armstrong Tsad a Jester from a soldier concerning militarv pay. In the course of the letter the soldier, dealing with the hardship enforced'-on soldiers' wives, says:—'ln civil life' husbands took home .£3 to £i 10s. every week, and .it was enough to •keep them' decently and respectably. I will do my' best to give you the rate ot pay wo get in camp, not the pay we get in the papers: , . , / Per day. Per week. £e.i. £*. d. Man's pay 05 0 I^o Wife's allowance ... 0 1 0 0 7 0 Child's allowance ■'■■ 0 0 ,9 . 0 5 3 Totals . £« 6 9 £ ° 73 - This was the pay that I got on coming into camp, and I ask you to listen to how it was spent :-ss. per week for myself for train fares and stamps and tobacco. I oame from , and tbougM I would fetch my family newer, so J. picked on Wellington, took two TOoni3 (255. per week), as I wanted my wife to live in a respectable place. I .had several places offered me from 15s. up to Sos. per week, and some of them you could only call 'places,' and that's all. That left me, or my wife, 17s. 3d. a week to live, feed,'and clothe herself, and tne baby to keep. Fortunately we had a bit of money left by to tide things over, but how are those women going to get on u they have no spare cash put by and have only their allowance to keep themselves on? Some of them won't ask for assistance, and sooner or later take what to mme appears to be tho easiest way of getting the money. .'ln conclusion I hope to God that you strike out and get a higher rata for yourselves and those that are dependent oh you."