SOLDIERS' PAY AND SEPARATION ALLOWANCES

Nelson Evening Mail, 6 July 1916, Page 4

SOLDIERS' PAY AND SEPARATION ALLOWANCES

STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER, (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, This Day. \ A statement regarding soldiers' : pay and separation allowances was made _ in the House yesterday 'by the Prime Minister. Mr Massey said that the Government was just as anxious as any member to do all it possibly could for the soldiers and to provide for them their dependents. It was quite impossible to give full compensation in money for the sacrifices of .widows and orphans of men who had been killed or those of soldiers "who were incapacitated. The Government had . a very serious responsibility in connection- -with the Expeai- ' tionary Force, and it must go carefully. Our present expenditure was over a million a month/Besides the pay, however, the Government was responsible to the Imperial Government _ for food; and clothing of the men. The Government bad not yet been able to obtain a de-. finite setiement with the Imperial Government in regard to the cost of food and clothing. He understood, however, that it was approximately four shillings a day. . Dr Tha'cker: It would, not cost the men so much' at Home. Mr Massey said that they were not likely to have a- settlement with the Imperial authorities until, the end of the Avar. There were also other expenses, including cost of transports, medical attention, and camp equipment. Alto- . "gether it was reasonable to assume that "every soldier at the front was costing the. Dominion 110 less than ten shillings a" day. '• . . Mr Witty: Soldiers do not get that. > Mr Massey : I have made that clear. I aril, speaking of tho cost to - the .country. . I do not bearudge it, and I wopl.d ■ not begrudge it if every man cost the country a pound a day. •• , Mr Poland : That .does not help the children. Mr Massey:.But I am showing the necessity for caution in connection with our financial arrangements. I assure the' House that so far the Government is concerned there will be no cheeseparing in connection with onr soldiers. . ■ ; * ~ ■ Mr Poland: There is evidence of it. Mr Massey said that the Defence Minister had assured the. House that he would bring the matter before Cabinet. > Mr Witty:. Will the Government act in the matter? ■. Mt Massey repeated that with our rapidly increasing expenditure it was necessary to lie extremely careful.