SOLDIERS' RIGHTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 3, 3 July 1940, Page 9

SOLDIERS' RIGHTS

GUARANTEE BILL

EMPLOYMENT ON RETURN

With the object of ensuring that soldiers serving abroad in the present war and dependants of such soldiers shall enjoy reasonable living conditions on their return to New Zealand, or on the death of the soldier, as the case may be, Mr. J. A. Lee (.Democratic Labour, Grey Lynn) introduced his Soldiers' Guarantee Bill in the House of Representatives last night.

The Bill proposes that a soldier shall be guaranteed employment for not less than five years after his return to New Zealand at standard rates of pay in the trade to which he was accustomed, or at not less than £5 a week.

There is also provision that the daily difference between the average adult income of men employed in New Zealand and the soldier's rate of pay (no additions to tbe soldier's rate of pay being made for food or uniform, and no reductions for rehabilitation' gratuity) shall be computed and credited to each soldier in proportion to his length of service; and the said deferred credits shall be realisable in twenty equal quarterly amounts issued or credited to each soldier on his return to New Zealand.

The Bill also proposes that the basic soldier's pension shall be subject to periodic and automatic review in relation to any increase in the cost of living and improvements in the general living standards. The Bill provides that there shall be no disqualification for a pension because of the date of the soldier's marriage.

Finally, there is a provision that any soldier who is a civil servant shall, on re-employment, be entitled to such increased emoluments as would have been added to his pre-war wage had he not been admitted for service overseas.