MORE PAY FOR TROOPS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15729, 2 October 1914, Page 6

MORE PAY FOR TROOPS.

INCREASES ANNOUNCED. PRIVATES AND CORPORALS. —4CAEE OF THE WOUNDED. [BY telegraph— SPEClAL correspondent.] Wellixctox, Thursday. A statement in regard to a proposed increase of pay to members of the expeditionary force, and other matters connected with the force, was made in the House of Representatives this afternoon bv the Minister for Defence (Hon. J. Allen). Mr. Allen said that when the. rates of ,pay were recently fixed it was understood that it was on the same scale as that in force when the contingents were sent to South Africa. The privates in the earlier of these contingents received 4s a day, and this rate had been fixed for the present expeditionary force. It had, however, been discovered that men in the j later South African contingents received Ss a day. In Australia the privates were being paid 65, with an additional Is a day as deferred pay. The Australian Government, however, had not so far adopted the provision that had been made in New Zealand by statute for the benefit of widows, children, and injured men. He believed that the Commonwealth Government was doing something of the kind now. | Mr. Allen said he had suggested to his colleagues that the rate of pay for New ; Zealand privates should be increased from 4s to 5s a day, and that of the corporals from 5s 6d to 6s a day. (Hear, hear.) This would I ring the rates of pay up to those paid to the later South African contingents. His colleagues had agreed to his suggestions. It was proposed that the increase in the rates of pay should be made retrospective, and that they should apply as from September 1 to the men who Sad already gone abroad, as well as to those who had not yet left our shores.

Men Serving in New Zealand. The Minister said he could not yet make a definite announcement in regard to the men who had been mobilised for sen-ice in New Zealand. These men were in a different position from that of those who were going abroad. The latter would not be ahle to exercise even an indirect control over their businesses, and their lives would be subject to greater risk than those of the men remaining in the Dominion. Consideration would be given to the- case of the men serving in the Dominion, but whilst he could not say yet what would be done, he thought that a separation allowance should be allowed to married men.

With regard to the men in the forts, the ~nister said that there had been some complaints, and those brought under his notice had been inquired into. He had himself visited all the forts at all the four centres and the only complaint he had heard was with regard to boot allowance. There had been some difficulties about supplying boots because of the enormous demands made upon the manufacturers, but the Government intended to see that while the men were i in the ions they would be properly shod. Mr. Allen said that he had made inquiries about the food supplied to the ; troops, and he was satisfied that the food I on the ships and at the camps was ex--1 cellent-

Remarks by Sir Joseph Ward. Sir Joseph Ward said he was very glad indeed to hear such a statement. He had heard that the non-commissioned officers were not receiving an amount proportionjte -to what officers were receiving in accordance to regulations. Their applications for the £5 allowance, he understood, had been refused at headquarters. As to the difference in pay between the officers here and in Australia—for which he Sir Joseph Ward, was responsible— wished to say that though Lord Kitchener had recommended the higher scale here, NewZealand could not afford to give such high pay as Australia had. The" Prime Minister said '.hat as the members of the Public Service with the troops would have difficulty in meeting their superannuation payments, the Government had arranged to meet the whole of the payments on the men's behalf, without charging them anything

Pay oi Maori Troops. The Hon. A. T. Ngata (Northern Maori District) asked if the Maori contingent would receive the rate of pay of 5s per day to troopers, which the other New Zealand troops were receiving. Mr. Allen replied that ail troops leaving New Zealand, including the Maoris, would receive the rate of pay mentioned. Respecting the payment of officers, he said that the regulations provided that officers, on joining the force for the first time, did get an allowance of £15. In the case of members of the expeditionary force, the allowance had been increased to £20. Regarding pay of non-commissioned officers, he re- ! marked that the highest pay for a regimental quartermaster-sergeant in the South i African campaign was & 6d. For* the j present campaign the rate was 9s, with, !in addition, an allowance of Is 6d. In. other instances where the rate of pay was similar to the South African Tate, there was the allowance of Is 6d to be added.

Sir Joseph Ward, referring again to the non-commissioned officers' allowance, said he had been told that, while officers got £5 extra, making a £20 allowance, warrant officers and non-commissioned officers

received nothing. It was stated to him that a voucher for the extra amount for non-commissioned officers, recommended by the adjutaitt of the battalion, had been forwarded, but not granted. He thought that should be reconsidered.

Mr. Allen said he would make inquiry. He pointed out that some very inaccurate and untrue statements were being circulated. The Government had made every provision, not only to take care of the wounded, and to take them back, but also tc provide for the widows of any who might lose their lives.

Mr. Newman (Eangitikei) said that there had been complaints about overcrowding on the Arawa.

Mr. Allen said provision had been made to remove 60 of the men from that ship. The other ships had all been inspected by the medical officers, who had certified that the accommodation provided met the requirements.

CONDUCT OF RESERVISTS. [by telegraph—special coeeespoxdext] Wellington, Thursday. Some complaints regarding the treatment end conduct of Imperial reservists which have readied the Minister for Defence, Hon. J. Allen, were mentioned by him in the Hc-uso of Representatives this afternoon.

•' I find that there are reservists and reservists.'' said Mr. Allen. "Some are excellent men, but they are not all of that quality. I am sorry to say there have been complaints about men parading the streets. I am sorry to sav that in some instances these are not without foundation. As far as I can gather. our own New Zealand troopers are not to blame. Those oi the reservists who are to biime will be' gathered together act! will be shipped to England at the first opportunity. I hope that ev'l has been stopped." Mr. Divey (Curistchurch East): Are there many of them?

Mr. Allen-. I don't think there are many of them, but circumstantial comnlaints have come to me in writing and I had' them immediately investigated. The result is that as far as I can (rather the New Zealanders are not to blame.

Mr. Malcolm fClutha) sn2z<ested that the whole of the reservists should be sent Home in ordinary ships and not in the troonshios.

Mr. Allen said circumstance.* had arisen that made it desirable to send some, but not all, 'if ths reservists Home in ordinary ships. There were, however, seme who wanted to stand by the New Zealand trooos and to join with them. Mr. Hanaa: It's a pity to brand them. Mr. Allen : I am not branding them, but some of them will certainly have to go with the mail boats.