SOLDIER AND CIVILIAN

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 167, 17 July 1942, Page 4

SOLDIER AND CIVILIAN

Mr. Hookway's recent letter under this heading is a trifle misleading. Although a soldier may have been placed beside a carpenter, working, it does not follow he will be as efficient as the tradesman. If he is, remember, if he is married, as he asserts, his pay will not be 7/ per day, but 10/, or £3 10/ per week, and he receives any financial assistance necessary, all untaxable, and no levy charge. In addition, his wife can earn. Against this, put the carpenter's wage, basing it on the hours worked by the soldiers in camp (in my experiences of camp recently— the total of 30 hours; weekly) and we find it to work out to roughly £3 13/9 (on the 40-hour award basis). This, of course, has the wage tax taken off. but not the £1 levy, clothes, fares, board, union fees and tool upkeep. No. I don't think Mr. Hookway would have that on at the flat rate of 3/3 per hour for a 54-hour week! As an unfit soldier who, in my fortunate days of army life and pay, only missed my wife and home, I was financially better off by the Assistance Board's order than I now am. being a conscript in an essential factory working 49 hours a week, and in so doing don't have the leave many army friends are enjoying, yes. the time of their lives for'many of them, but I. being a rejected thirdgrader, am expected to have the dash and endurance of a first-grader. Let us remember nearly all these essential workers work hard and long hours for the little extra thev receive after being taxed, then spend two or more nights and Sundays in Home Guard or E.P.S. duties. owe them much. HEYBOUT-TURN.