PAY OF THE FORCES

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20825, 2 July 1942, Page 2

PAY OF THE FORCES

DEFENCE BY PREMIER DANGER IN INCREASE (P.R.) WELLINGTON, this. day. The rates of. pay in the New Zealand armed forces were defended by the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser, in the House of Representatives after two notices of questions from Opposition members dealing with this matter had been given. “Will the Prime Minister, under the new War Administration, take steps to have a complete review of the pay of the men in the armed forces?” was a question of which Mr. J. A. Roy (Nat. Ciutha) gave notice. He said it was felt by many that the pay given to the men who were asked to risk their lives as well as to make many other sacrifices did not compare favourably with that of many in civil occupations. The other notice of question came from Mr. E. B. Gordon (Nat. Rangitikei), and asked whether the Minister of Defence would explain why air force defence units, namely A.C. 2’s only received 5s 4d a day while a Territorial private received 7s a day. He also asked the Minister to see that a second uniform was issued to these men. They had only one uniform in which to work and go on leave. This put these men at a disadvantage. They had no change if they got wet. The Prime Minister expressed a hope that members would have a fiting sense of responsibility in regard to these matters and that they would study the rates of pay. These matters would be taken up with the new administration, but at the same time members must realise that there was a danger in starting once more that spiral of rising prices, wages, and payments. He would say that the payment of a New Zealand soldier was higher than any other, country on earth. Therefore, it did compare with wages paid outside in many instances. The thing all members had ,to be aware of was to avoid arousing an agitation which was unnecessary and unwarranted among our own men. Mr. Roy: Quite a number of people are not satisfied about it all the same. Mr. Fraser: All right, then.