THE MENS-COMPLAINTS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 143, 20 June 1939, Page 8

THE MENS-COMPLAINTS

RISING COSTS OF LIVING COMPARISON WITH WAGES IN CIVILIAN JOBS

( Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, June 19. Comparisons with the wages earned in civilian occupations and in the NewZealand military forces lie behind the dissatisfaction of the New Zealand ratings with their rates of pay. Dissatisfaction has been particularly rife among the married men, who state that they have been finding it increasingly difficult in face of the rising costs of living to maintain themselves and their families on the allowances given in the Navy. It was stated that these two factors, shore wages and increasing costs of Jiving, had been responsible for the two requests decided upon at to-day’s meetings. One request was for a general increas in pay of 3s a day. This was made for all grades of ratings and was not varied on a scale from one rank to another, so that the lower-paid men would be just as capable as the more highly-paid ratings of meeting the increased costs of living. The second request was that the marriage allowance should be assessed quarterly. This procedure, it was stated, would provide scope to meet the increased costs of Jiving as they occurred from time to time. It did

not mean that the men wanted an ini crease in their marriage allowance at the end of every quarter, but that a I review should then be made and an ; increase granted if costs had inj creased in the meantime. Increased Basic Rate. | At the present time there is a flat , i rate of 7s 4d a for all ratings. ■ This rate is a basic one for the lowestI paid seaman. From it is calculated ! the pay for the higher rankings, so i that a man with one good-conduct, ! badge would get 7s 4d plus 3d, a man : with two good-conduct badr" 1 7s 4d 1 plus 6d. and a leading seaman, petty officer seaman, leading stoker, petty i officer stoker and so on, 7s 4d. plus the additional amount prescribed for their rank. The request decided upon to-day is to the effect that the basis of the flat rate should be increased to 10s 4d. On top of this amount the men with higher ranks would get the present allowances. Considerable importance was attached. by the men to their wish that the change should be made in the basic rate and not to the additional allowances. In addition to his personal pay a married New Zealand rating received a marriage allowance of 2s a day for h's wife and 6d for each child. In the Royal Navy the marriage allowance is 17s a week, although the New Zealand ratings state that the cost of living in England is much cheaper than that, in the Dominion. However, thej’ said they were not asking for an increased marriage allowance. They thought a fair request would be to have the allowance reviewed from time to time in the light of the costs of liv-

ing. It is stated that particularly for a married seaman and stoker without petty officer rank, the position has become almost impossible. Even for a petty officer, for whom an allocation of about £3 a week is made to his wife, increased living costs are stated to have become such that the pay is barely sufficient to meet all calls made upon it. High rents and State taxation on internal Navy payments are cited as mcreasing difficulties facing the married mn, who state that by the time all commitments are met their own personal allowance is decreased to a few shillings a week, from which they have to meet their own mess bill. Other Military Departments. Increases in the pay of rankings in th? Air and Army Departments have deepened the naval grievances. In addition, comparisions are made with the wages drawn by such men as ' Public Works Department employees. To this latter condition the men assign the frequent desertions from the 1 Navy.