RAISING THE AGE

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20915, 21 September 1939, Page 9

RAISING THE AGE

SPECIAL VOLUNTEERS RATES OF PAY ANALYSED SOCIAL SECURITY LEVY (By Telegraph.—Special to Times) WELLINGTON, Wednesday The Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, during the debate on the Appropriation Bill in the House of Representatives to-day referred to the possibility of raising the age group limits in connection with the special military force in order that a proportion of fit returned soldiers could be included, the Minister stated: “I am quite prepared to look into that aspect of the question to see whether we cannot be more liberal as far as age is concerned. It is tnue that some men are old at 40 and others are quite young at 60. It is a question of seeing that we get the best men. I think that the man who has served perhaps for years in, say, an engineering unit should not he put aside. Rates of Pay “The rates of pay have given us a great deal of thought as far as the special force is concerned. We had a look at the territorial rate of pay, which is 7s a day for a private, plus 5s every day he was in camp or school of instruction. A colonel’s rate is 24s a day, plus ss, making 29s a day in camp. We had to consider what we would give the single mao' and what allowances we would make.” Details of the manner in which rates were fixed were described by the Minister, who said that the territorial rates of pay had been adopted practically right through. If a colonel received £1 16s a day for himself, his wife and two children, he was being reasonably paid, Mr Jones added. A private, if he were married with two children, would receive £2 9s a week for himself, £1 Is for his wife and £1 Is for his children, making a total of £4 11s. “We have reduced the margins between a private and the officers, but I think we were quite justified in dojng that,” the Minister continued. “We are doing it because we are working on the territorial basis. We pay higher rates in the Territorial Force than in any other part of the British Commonwealth. While I am quite prepared to go into the question of rates generally, members should appreciate that we have reduced the margin. Destination Unknown “We do not know whether the special force will leave these shores,” he said. “It may be that they will serve In this country. Nobody knows where they are going to be used.” “If the force goes overseas and If there is any hardship, and a man, no matter what class, cannot pay his way, we have to measure up to that,” Mr Jones concluded. “I hope we will endeavour to do the right thing by all who are serving.” Social Security Levy “The portion of soldiers’ military pay allocated by men serving in the forces to their wives and children will not be subject to the usual social charge of lo in the pound,” said Mr Jones. The Minister said that the Government would pay the social security contribution of men serving the Dominion in the armed forces and this payment would be made in respect of the whole of the income such men received as, military pay. It would not be confined merely to that portion received by the men themselves, but would extend to the allowances made by the Government in respect of a wife and children.

Expenses Met

“When men receive instructions to report for medical examination and have to travel any distance entailing expense, their out of pocket charges will be met,” said Mr Jones, in replying to an urgent question asked by Mr W. J. Broadfoot (Opposition— Waitomo).