SEPARATION ALLOWANCES

Evening Post, Volume XCI, Issue 146, 21 June 1916, Page 2

SEPARATION ALLOWANCES

jTO THE EDITOR. Sir,—l have been looking for some time for some references to the above ! from our members of Parliament, but so far have been disappointed. Now, there is considerable misapprehension regarding separation allowances and pensions. The general belief is that the dependents, viz., wife and children, receive on the enlistment of the husband 2Gs and 7s 6d respectively per week, -while, as a matter of fact, the allowance is, I believe, Is for wife and 6d per child daily allowance, or 7s and 3s 6d per week. There is a considerable difference between the two scales, and, with compulsory service about to be put into force, the latter scale is altogether inadequate. I do not think that members of Parliament realise what the true position h, or we should lioar moro about the subject, and the general .public cej■ j

tainly do not, or we should have a general all-round protest. As matters stand at present, the position is absurd. While the soldier is alive and well and fighting for his country, and rendering good service to the State, his wife receives the sum of 7s per week, and immediately he is killed she has her allowance advanced to 20s per week and the children's allowances more than doubled. Surely, sir, this matter requires some amendment before the Military Service Bill becomes law. While on this subject, what arrangement, may I ask, does the Government intend to make re the civil liabilities of married men, cornpulsorily enlisted, such as rent of house or business premises, mortgage interest, instalment payments of contracts, such as purchase of premises, business, etc., taxes, rates, and insurance premiums ? Have all these liabilities to be left to the poor wife to meet out of her "shilling a day" ? These are pertinent questions, and bare just-ice requires the National Government to face them and meet them like men. Hoping that the above may set the public thinking, and make v the Government do "the right thing,'—l am, etc..

"A SHILLING A DAY." 17th June, 1916.