SOLDIERS' WAGES.

North Otago Times, Volume CV, Issue 13927, 9 July 1917, Page 1

SOLDIERS' WAGES.

IS MILITARY PAY ADEQUATE?

WELLINGTON, July i. At a mecitng of the Second Division League last evening Mr K, A. Armstrong read a letter from a soldier concerning military pay, In the course of the letter, flio soldier, dealing with , the hardship enforced ou soldiers' wives, says: "In civil life husbands took home from £3 to £1 10s each week, and it was enough to keep them decently and respectably. I will do my best to give you the rate of pay we get here in camp, not the pay we get in the papers. Men's pay per week, £1 ios; wife's allowance per lveek, 7s; child's allowance per week, 5s 3d—total per week, £2 7s 3d. This was tho N pay that I got on coming into 'camp, and 1 ask you to listen how it was spent. I spent 5s per week for myself for train fares, stamps, mid tobacco, T came from —, and thought.l would fetch my family nearer, so I picked ou Wellington. 1 took two rooms (:'as per week) as I wanted my wife to live in a respectable place, I had several plates offered me from Ifw up to Ms per week, and some of. them you could onh call 'places,' anil that's all. That left me or my wife 17s Ud a week to live, feed, and clothe herself and the baby to keep, Fortunately, wo had a little money laid by to tide things over, but how are those women going to get onjjf they have no spare cash put by, and have only their allowances to keep them? Some of them won't ask for assistance, and sooner or later will take what, to some, appears to be I lie easiest way of Retting the money. In conclusion 1 hope thai you strike out and get a higher rate for yourselves and those that are dependent ou you."