PAY OF THE NAVY.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 8 September 1923, Page 4

PAY OF THE NAVY.

CALL FOft REVISION

NEED FOR STAFF REDUCTIONS

The Select Committee of the British House of Commons, which is investigating the Navy Estimates, in its first report, expresses the opinion that steps should be taken to review the pay of officers and men in thcTEtoyal Navy in 1924, and that the administrative departments stand in need of reorganisation and reduction.

It is pointed out, says the Daily Telegraph, that although the establishment of the Navy is to-day 51,500 lower than in 1913-14, the pay has increased by £5,200,000. The combined increase in the pay of officers and men amounts to 120 per cent, over pre-war rates, but the pay of the able seamen taken separately represents an increase of 150 per cent., although the increase of the cost of living is only about 70 per cent. In addition* the seamen receives a marriage allowance. All grades are pensionable after 22 years' service, a petty off. icer receiving about 30s a week. In the case of the officers the pay has been increased by 60 to 70 per cent., and they also receive a pension. With the exception of reserving to themselves the power to review the pay of officers on July 1 next, no precautions were taken by the Admiralty to revise the pay of the men, except with regard to the marriage allowances should wages generally fall. The report continues, "It may be well to point out that it was the opinion of the Admiralty representative that the Navy, like every other section of the community, would loyally accept '.§ reduction in their rates °f P ay provided that a similar reduction was made in. all other Government and municipal services." Attention is drawn to the much great, er cost of the victualling department, and the medical and educational services. In the victualling yard a boatswain whose pay in 1914 was £214 now gets £417, though there are fewer men to clothe a,iid victual. Despite the reduction in personnel, there are now four surgeon rea,r-admirate atja costiof £8431, whereas in 1914 there were three costing £4499. Wardmasters have increased from six in 1914 (£1019) to 12 (£4851). "It would appear, ".observes the committee, "that a portion of the increase in the cost of the Navy is due to employing in many positions officers of a higher rank than the position warrants, who are paid more because of their rank.

Among other instances similar to those given above is quoted the case of the Royal Navy College, Greenwich, "where there are 227 students with a staff of 336 to look after them." In 1913-14 there were five coxswains in the Home dockyards, at a cost of £506. The same men to-day draw £1214. The report states: "These men are part of the retinue which is attached to senior naval officers. A paper was put in dealing with the retinue of senior naval officers at yards abroad, from which it would anpear that a. captain in charge of a dockyard get four cooks and stewards, whereas if a commander is in charge of the same dockyard he only gets two oooks and stewards—the explanation being that the number of-servants is regulated by the rank of the officer."