FOR OUR HEROES.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXVI, Issue 17441, 11 December 1918, Page 5

FOR OUR HEROES.

GOVERNMENT'S DECISION

ANNOUNCED

RETROSPECTIVE ALLOWANCES,

BONUSES. ETC

(Per Press Association.)

WELLIXGTUN. Dee. 10

In the Hoii«o of Kepresentntires today the Mini .«( -r oi" Defence pvu-e g summary oi' the Government's provisior for soldiers in the matter of repatriation, retrospective 'allowances and othei good 'treatm-ent.

It was proposed. -aid Sir James Allen, to allot fifty i-ehohr.-hips at- British Universities, ienal>;e by soldiers who had partly completed their Univer. sity course in New Zealand. This would occupy the men whi'e they were awaiti ing embarkation, and would fit in with the general education sclienie. TSis cusfc would be £10,625.

PosS-graduatc courses for medical and dental students would also be provided, a y well as .special course;- in agriculture, stock, and so on, with courses at Agricultural Colleges. There would a\so I*3 courses for engineer., and mechanics, as far as possible in workshops, and otlier vocational said ius-itruc-tional training, pending embarkation. The cost, of this branch would ire £50,----000.

On the transports, educational traie, ing would go on. When sick meJi Iw i«?s returned to New Zealand they would undergo cura'tiv-e- treatment, * but he could not estimate the cost.

Officers' outfit allowances had been very low. although they had b-oen increased to £25, and it was proposed to increase the amount to £40, available 'to all officers retrospectively tip till tthfr lime of the siffiiinir of the armistice. The cost av.oukl be £70,500.

Retrospective allowances were also to be granted to married men who volunteered early in the war. He had to]d a . deputation of 'the R.S.A. that the cost would be £615,000, and it was then suggested that the amount'should' be taken off bonuses. Instead of following thii't course, however, lie proposed to provide an extra sum of £440,----000.

To make some provision in lieu of re_ trospective allowances;, if was proposed that up til! December, 1917. separation allowance would be increased up to 3s. This would be payable to the wife, or to the guardian of children, if the wifewas not alive.

Officers had been underpaid from ths start, and it; was proposed, as from April last, to bring the pay of Expeditionary officers up to that of the Permanent Staff. This would cost £172,----000

It was also intended io brinsj. the Nursing Sty-vice up to the Commonwealth standard, and £60,000 would bo set aside for the purpose.

Thebbassi s of bonus would I>e one we?k\s pay for every 18 weeks of service, in the case of single men, and one week's pay for every 13 weeks' service in the case <tpf married men. The amount wou'd be £1,255,22c5.

The tokal expenditure would be £2,----058,000, in addition to the amount (£500,000) already put aside for repatriation and other provisions 01, financial assistance. These allowances, said Sir James, would, he hoped, clear up all grievances, both old and recent. He said the sum of money involved should not be too seriously regarded, if it would do good to the men who had done so much for iis.

The statement was received by the House with general expressions of satisfaction.

Joseph Stella.. Wra. Muggridge. Samuel Donaldson. Edward J. Barry. Vivian Beckhann (7£ months). Kani'li'eea West (7 mon-ths), TangL wai. Mrs. Bird. Erua. Peter AVal-sh, Karioi. Pote Tumoingo. Karioi. Kariti Warera, Karioi. M.iss Warera, Karioi. Mare Ariki, Karioi, Joe Pehi, Karioi. Mrs. Pehi, Karioi. J. CJarroll. AValter Puka (2 years.) Haumnwira M.arekura (1 year.) TAIHAPE. (All names are those of males, unless oilier wise designated by tlie prefix of Mrs. or Miss.) Robin, Ohakune (passenger by the Niagara.) P. Riley, Ohakune. W. '.Newton, Ohakune. L. Berg, Hihitahi. Mjs. Golder. Peter Tacroa. AKrk Gai-TT.pr. Hihitahi. Hiife'ii iNagio (son oi abcre.) .}. Roulston, Utiku. H. Biueioft. David Beattic. Harold Macey (reJturned eoldier.) Piki Potaka, Utiku. Norman Tidswell. Mrs*. Munro. J. Walton. J. McCullough, Malnroa. Rawhite Peni, Taurangarere. A Burrows. Harry Dun bar. Miss Golder. Miss R, Niell. T. Midgeley, Utiku. Rev. Father Kineaid. Wil'iain KinJiade. John A. Champion. Miss Grace Jones. Arthur Matt.hews, Utiku. M. Goraian, Winiata. T. Iwakau. Mrs. Instone. Wra. Sexton Miss M^ A. 'Darvill. Peter Ferguson. Oramatua. Paul Peitersen, Utiku. J. Galloway. Mrs. Larson. George Perry, Ohingaiti. Wilson (a child) Moawlnanfo. Mrs. Shields. Miss May Eraser. Mrs. Helen Ferguson and baby Utiku. • : Constable R. W. Pctlitt F. Bright. Utiku. C Boyle, Moawhango. J. Greenlccs (11 ye.-nvs). D. Tweedale, Hihitahi H. Rn.^ll. Mrs. Mako, Moawhango. Teoti Polu-. T>. Ledwaixl, Xgarukehu. B. Hvanes. J. Groon. Mrs. A. AY. Bc?a. Mi-s Twmln'c, H'lritahi T. HadSfila, Utiku. Mrs. Milk. A. Rugg. A child named Gorman*. H["NTERVTT,LE. Dngald McLarhLin. Edwin O. Broun. Alex. Lindsay Ohisbolin Mks Chisholm (sister of above ) EUe* Tate. OHIXGATTF. Ohas. Stt»rit. There were no deaths at Manga'.veka.