SOLDIERS' SEPARATION ALLOWANCE

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 14132, 7 July 1916, Page 4

SOLDIERS' SEPARATION ALLOWANCE

COST OP THE WAR

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

r , Wellington, July 5. Members of the House of Representatives have almost daily been appealing to the Government to miaie the separation allowance for wives and children of soldiers more liberal. The Premier to-day said he would like members to understand that the members of the Government were just as anxious as ordinary n-.embers to do everything possible for the men who were risking lives for our defence (hear, hear), 'but no money would compensate widows and orphans for husbands and fathers lost. The Government realised that, but he asked members to recollect that they had very serious financial responsibilities, and had got to go carefully. Our responsibilities at the present moment exceeded /at million a month. Members were in tho habit of thinking the pay of a soldier stoppeel at 5s a day. The pay for a private was certainly 5s a day for. seven days » week, with separation allowance * for wives and children of married men, but besides the ordinary pay the country was responsible to the Imperial Government for the soldiers' food and clothing. They had not been told definitely by the Imperial Government what this, food and clothing would cost, but they had been given to understand that it v»ould cost approximately 4r, a day. Then there was the cost of transport, medical equipment, and so on. It was fairly reasonable to assume that every soldier sent to the front would cost the country no ties? tlmn 10s a. day. Ho did not grudge the cost—be would not grudge £1 a day. Mr Poland: That does not help die children. Mr Jfassey: Net a bit, but lam showing tho . necessity for caution in connection with our financial arrangements. So far :;■> the Government is. I concerned there vn]) be nothing in the shape of cheese-paring. The "Premier went on to say that the Defence Minister had assured f .the House theothtvi:ight that he would take an opportunity of bringing the matter before Cabinet, and he had not the slightest doubt that: that word would be right.