PAY ADJUSTMENTS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 78, 1 February 1943, Page 2

PAY ADJUSTMENTS

NAVY, ARMY AND AIR FORCE Christchurch, Jan. 31. Adjustments are to be made in the pay of men in the various forces to bring them into line as far as possible, said the Minister of Defence, Mr Jones, in an address to electors of Christchurch East. He was replying to a member of the Air Force who asked why allowance was made to men in the Air Force for only one child. “Pay in all services will be approximately the same,” said Mr Jones. He said that the Air Force was on a regular rate of pay, while the Army was on a special rate, plus allowances. “We have made provision that any airman worse off than his opposite number in the Army will receive an allowance to bring him up,” said the Minister. “The idea is that the Army rate will be the basic rate, and if anybody in the Navy or Air Force with a family is getting less than that rate, then he will receive the basic rate.” The airman: But why does the Army get more than the Navy? “They do not get more than the Navy,” replied Mr Jones. “The Navy men get deferred pay, and when a man goes out after 12 years’ service he is given £SOO. Provision has been made for Navy personnel to get deferred pay at the termination of engagement no matter what period that may be. That applies to men who joined in 1939 or before, and those who have joined since 1940 will draw superannuation.”—P.A.