PUNISHMENT OF SOLDIERS.

Marlborough Express, Volume LI, Issue 153, 30 June 1917, Page 5

PUNISHMENT OF SOLDIERS.

EFFECT ON DEPENDENTS

: WELLINGTON, June"9o.:* The Advisory Board of the New Zealand, Patriotic War Relief Societies /recently brought to the attention of the Defence Minister the haxdships.imposed upon wives and dependents of soldiers owing to the stoppage of the men's pay in punishment for offences.

"Sir James Allen has now replied stating that the stoppages of pay for "certain military offences occur under the Army Act, which governs the New Zealand as well as the Imperial troops. If the Government paid the lines of the m^n, who understand the punishment, . ifc would render the punishn.ent ineffective, since the loss of pay was really the principal pair, of the punishment, and it would compel commanding officers to resort to other and less desirable mentis of enforcing discipline. White the results of the men's pjmishment thhs fell heavily ii: some cases on the'ileperidents, it could not be overlooked that there v/Wa certain class of men who wor.M be less amenable to discipline if they Vnew that the State would practically absolve thorn from responsibiUi?/ in regard to those dependent on them.