GERMAN SOLDIERS' PAY

Southland Times, Issue 17658, 16 February 1916, Page 6

GERMAN SOLDIERS' PAY

SOCIALISTS DEMAND INCREASE. The Clerical Centre party has submitted a resolution to the Budget Committee of the German Reichstag demanding that "'if possible” the pay of all officers and aohliers in the German Army shall be increased by 50 per cent, as from January 1, 1910. At present a German private serving at borne receives 25 pfennige CM) per day, and 40 pfennige (sd) if on foreign service. The Socialists have gone one better than the Centre in seeking popular approval by making a definite, unconditional demand that the pay of soldiers at home shall be increased to lid and the pay of those beyond the German frontiers to lOd per day.

The Imperial Secretary fer Finance declared time any increase was quite impossible at present, inasmuch as war expenditure is so heavy that the Government cannot accept the responsibility for any additional burdens apart from those absolutely necessary for conducting the various mini aigus in the east, west, and south wp.h the necessary vigour, j To the combined demands of 11.e Socialists and the Centre part;,- for an increase in tlie allowances mc.dc by tne Ministry of War to tiic wives and families of soldiers at the front, the Imperial Minister for Finance opposed the came argument for the need of economy. By way of emphasising his point be presented to too committee a memorandum showing trie continuous rise in the total sum paid to soldiers families, which have risen .from £1,2 19,552 in August, 1914, to >4,705,90:5 in September, 1915. These sums do not include the grants made by municipal and local authorities for tile relief of distress caused by the war.