SOLDIERS’ PAY

Waikato Times, Volume 195, Issue 22460, 22 September 1944, Page 3

SOLDIERS’ PAY

INCREASESJN BRITAIN ALL RANKS TO BENEFIT WHITE PAPER ISSUED (Omcial Wireless) (Received Sept. 22, 1 p.m.) RU-GBY l Sept. 21 All ranks of the British fighting services are to receive substantial increases in pay. A White Paper says that they may take a little time to implement but will be retrospective from September 3.

The plan is in two parts. The first is an increase in pay for long service. Thus a private who was in the Army on September 3, 1939, and therefore will have completed five years’ war service on September 3 last, will be entitled to three increments—the first of a shilling for completing three years’ service, and the second and third of sixpence each for completing the fourth and fifth years, therefore from 3s 9d he will be entitled to another 2s a day above his present pay (4s 9d or 5s a day). The rates run up from Is a day after three years and 6d after each subsequent year for a private to 3s a day after three years and Is a day for each subsequent year for senior commissioned rank below that of major-general. It makes no difference hew long the individual has been in his present rank. For example, a major who joined the Army as a private on September 3, 1939, and was commissioned in 1940, will be treated as though he were a major the whole time and receive an addition of 5s a day. Increase in Pacific The second part of the plan is for service in the Far East. A British soldier’s basic pay is now 3s or 3s 6d a day, compared with basic rates (sterling) of 8s 3d a day for Americans and 5s 2d a day for Australians. Increased pay for soldiers fighting Japan will be some compensation to those men who remain in the services after the defeat of Germany, says the Daily Express. On the assumption that the war against Japan will be largely carried on in the air and at sea nearly every man in the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy will also receive a big increase.