LIVING FOR SOLDIER

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIII, Issue 6, 8 January 1942, Page 6

LIVING FOR SOLDIER

FAMILIES

The mobilisation of the National Military Reserve and Territorials and the pending call-up of childless married" men and, later, younger married men with families draw attention to urgent individual income problems. In the married classes and among members of the National Military Reserve there will be few men whose service will not be given at great financial sacrifice—a sacrifice shared by their families. To modify this sacrifice provision has been made, following the 'practice in the Great War, for grants of financial assistance to meet insurance ! premiums, rent, mortgage, and similar payments. This is only fair. The soldiers themselves are making great sacrifices and their families suffer in personal anxiety. They should not be called upon to make excessive material sacrifices also. Admittedly the pay of soldiers cannot be adjusted to their pre-service incomes, but an adjustment can at least cover their reasonable and prudent commitments.

This will be admitted by everyone who has given any thought to the question. But it is necessary to make sure that the practical measures to give effect to the principle , are adequate. To some extent they are based on the standards set in the Great War, but it must be remembered that there has been an almost revolutionary change in values and standards since then. In 1914-18 a limit of £156 a year for financial assistance would have covered rent or mortgage interest and insurance, with an ample margin in most cases. Now there, will be many married soldiers whose rent or house com-

mitments exceed this. Their families will have to dip heavily into allotted pay and allowances, or else give up insurance and seek cheaper accommodation. They should not be asked to suffer this, or to exhaust 'their sayings. From- time to time there has been stress laid on the Government aim of maintaining the living standard. Whose living standard — that of the soldiers' families, or that of civilians whose income has not been greatly reduced or whose earnings have even been increased by overtime? A few weeks ago there was great argument on the question of- compensation for a cost of living increase ranging about 5 per cent. What an argument could be put up for compensation for the income reduction that the average married soldier will have to face!