JUSTICE

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 140, 10 December 1918, Page 8

JUSTICE

SOLDIERS AND THEIR , < ' / '.WIVES' ;; "■; \ RETROSPECTIVE ALLOWANCES ALSO OTHER GOVERNMENT PROVISION, In tie Hbnse of Repreaenattives to-. -day the Minister of Defence gave a summary of the Government's provision for soldiers in the matter of repatriation, retrospective ' allowances, and other, good treatment.

It was proposed, said Sir James, to allot fifty scholarships at British Universities .tenable by soldiers who had partly completed their university course in New Zealand. This would occupy the men while they were awaiting embarkation, and would fit in with the general education scheme; The cost would be £10,625. - , .

Post graduate course* for medical and dental students would'also be provided, as well as special courses in agriculture, stock, and so on, with courses at agricultural colleges. There wotdd also be j courses for engineers and mechanics af, far as' possible in workshops, and otheW vocational and instructional training, pending embarkation. The cost of this branch would be £50,000. .

On the transports educational training would go on. When sick men were returned to New Zealand they -would undergo curative treatment, but he couW not estimate the cost.

Officers' outfit allowances had been very low, although they had been increased to £25,, and it was proposed to increase the amount £40 available to all officers, retrospectively,' up. till the time of the signing of. the armistice. The cost would be £70,500.'

Retrospective allowances were also to be granted to married men who.volunteered'early id tile war. He had told a deputation of the R.S.A. that the cost would be £615,000, and it was then suggested that 1 the amount should be taken off the bonuses. Instead: of following that course, however, he proposed to provide an extra sum of £440,000 to make some provision in lieu of retrospective allowances. It was proposed that up till December, 1917, the separation allowance would be increased up to 3e. This would be payablel to the wife, or to the guardian of the children, if the wife was t not alive.

Officers had, been underpaid from the start, and it was proposed,' as from April last, to bring the pay of expeditionary officers up.to that of the permanent staff. This wonld cost £172,000. It was also Intended to bring the nursing service np to the Commonwealth standard, and £60,000 wonld be set aside for the ■ purpose. The basis of the bonus would be one week's pay for every eighteen weetys of service in the ease of single men, and one .week's pay for every thirteen weeks' service in the case of married, men. The amount would be £1,265,228.

The total expenditure would 'be £2,058,000 in additfon. to the amount (£500,000) already set aside for repatriation and other provisions of financial assistance.