PAY AND ALLOWANCES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17319, 20 May 1918, Page 5

PAY AND ALLOWANCES

STATEMENT BY MR ARMSTRONG.

(Pu United Pbess Associatiov.) WELLINGTON, May 19. Referring to the figures published by thai Dofenco Department showing how Now. Zealand leads other parts of the British - Empiro regarding pay and allowances to: soldiers and dependents, Mr Armstrong;' (national president of the Second Division Loague) stated last night that other do-,, minions had not yet reached the problems which New Zealand was now facing. So far as Australia was concerned it was only' necessary to remind the people that even singlo men in the commonwealth could please themselves whether they went to the war or not. Canada apparently had not" mado any call yet on the married reservists, as a few days ago a cablegram announced; that the Canadian authorities were only then about to call up the men between. 20 and 23 years of age. Canada, therefore; had apparently not. yet reached the pcttiv tion in which New Zealand was 12 month*; ago. It had to be remembered that in 1917 • the New Zealand separation allowance for a wife was 7s per week, as against Canada'!' £1' Os lGd. Another recent message from Canada stated that tho pay was to be sideraMy increased. It was ridiculous for' tho Now Zealand Defenoo Department tosuggest that the people «f Canada would ask a soldier's wife with five children to exist on a total allowance of £1 Os 10d, plus tho allotments from her husband's pay. So far as Great Britain was concerned the conditions could not be compared. Britain's civil population was apparently completely organised for Avar purposes, and her principal industries were nationalised under State control for the war period. _ Profiteering had been effectively dealt with, and if , reports were to be believed, the whole of the, people were on rations in Britain. There- : fore there was at least some measuro of equality of sacrifice. It was time to compare tho British soldier's pay with our' own when tho Government of this country adopted the general war legislation of'; Britain, and when steps wcTe taken to ensure that the whole of tho sacrifice did not fall alone unon tho man _ who .Was found medically fit to serve his country,, There was no reason why New Zealand should not continue to lead, and jf by tbit leadership she assisted in breaking down the precedents and prejudices of other, countries, and induced tho prevention of & rcnctition of the administrative mistakes of other '.Mrs, tho greater would bo the credit to the people and tho' Government of th»: countrv.