GRATUITY PAYMENTS REVISED FOR 2ND N.Z.E.F. MEN WHO ENLISTED IN BRITAIN

Evening Star, Issue 26153, 15 July 1947, Page 4

GRATUITY PAYMENTS REVISED FOR 2ND N.Z.E.F. MEN WHO ENLISTED IN BRITAIN

(P.A.) NEW PLYMOUTH, July 15'. Men who enlisted in the New Zea-. land forces while living in Britain are now to receive their gratuity at overseas rates. This is the result of efforts by the New Plymouth Returned Services’ Association to remove a longstanding anomaly. Formerly men who enlisted in Britain because that was the country in which they were “ normally domiciled ” were considered to be on home service while, in Britain, and were granted gratuity at the home rate of 8d a day instead of the overseas rate of 2s fid. This meant that when the Second Echelon was in Britain its members were earning 2s 6d a day gratuity, while New Zealanders who. enlisted in Britain were receiving Bd. This anomaly. came to the notice of the R.S.A. when a new Plymouth exserviceman, who had joined the antitank unit, which was formed early in the war from New Zealanders living abroad, found that the 2s 6d a day which had been acredited to him for sendee in Britain had been reduced to Bd. The Army claimed a refund. This man went to the Middle East when the anti-tank unit accompanied the Second Echelon there, and for this, service received 2s fid a day. He returned to Britain to join the staff of Public Relations, and came to New Zealand for his discharge. When the R.S.A. took up his case they pointed out that a rate of 2s 6d was normally for service outside New Zealand. After prolonged negotiation, extending over six months, a letter has been received by the New Plymouth R.S.A. from the general secretary of the New Zealand R.S.A., Mr S. J. Harrison, who has tbeen handling the, case for the New Plymouth association, stating that the 2s 6d has been granted, and all members of the 2nd N.Z.E.F. who are in a similar position will benefit by the decision. “ It will not be necessary for anyone so affected to make personal application,” the letter concludes, “ for instructions have been issued for a review of the accounts of all such personnel.”