OTHER PEOPLE’S IDEAS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 September 1942, Page 4

OTHER PEOPLE’S IDEAS

SOLDIERS’ DEPENDANTS (To the Editor) Sir,—Will you kindly permit me space to point out, as one who took an active part in the Wairarapa and Dominion-wide campaign of 1917-18 as to the betterment of our conditions for soldiers and their dependant’s, that a comparative table as to the New Zealand and Australian rates of soldiers’ pay, also separation allowances and allotments, published, by some newspapers, can be misleading. There are many people who do not realise (hat the allotments are provided, from the soldiers’ pay, hence it is necessary to explain that the wives and children in all instances quoted are better off in Australia than in New Zealand as far as the State’s share in their welfare is concerned. The comparative scale of allowances, plus allotments, as published, is strengthened, nominally, by the extra allotment addition of 7s weekly (compulsory 4s 6d daily as against 3s 6d by the Australian soldier) at the expense of the New Zealand soldier, who is paid 7s 6d per day as against 8s 6d paid to the Australian. Compared with the American standard of pay. with the allowance for a wife as high as £8 15s monthly, the New Zealand soldier—and the Australian too —appear to be much less favourabl5 r circumstanced. Taking into due account the higher basis of general civilian wages, and the increased cost of living, with high rentals, since 19141918, the dependants of today are at an even greater economic disadvantage compared with those of the Great War era. The allowance of 4s 6d per day for a wife with children is only sufficient for average, rental needs, and with the calling up of married men all wives should receive a minimum of 4s 6d.

The children’s allowance still stands at Is 6d per day per child and the widowed mother’s similar allowance remains unaltered. The soldier’s 3s per day for overseas needs is not worth more than the old 2s. Reasonably, wives with children should receive £2 2s per week and £1 Is per child and widowed mothers £1 Is. If the soldier’s pay were increased to 10s per day then Is could be funded for holiday leave needs and Is 6d held as a home-coming reserve. I have always appreciated the fact that there is a Financial Assistance Board, but this body should deal with exceptional needs—not with thousands of applications. The principle of equality of rights _ and sacrifices is what most folk will approve in relation to our defenders.—l am, etc.,

A. C. HOLMS. Waipukurau, September 8.