CORRESPONDENTS' VIEWS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 169, 20 July 1942, Page 2

CORRESPONDENTS' VIEWS

ESSENTIAL WORK

(To The Editor)

Recently in this column and elsewhere much indignation has been shown by statements that the essential worker, who it is either claimed or inferred to be sheltering behind his occupation from his military duties, is being paid £12 or more per week, while the soldier gets only 7/ per day. This war requires an "all in" effort, which means that all sections of the community must do their utmost towards a victorious conclusion. There are cases, no doubt, where an essential worker has a very high rate of pay, but this, I believe, is the exception, not the rule. It must be remembered that all essential workers have not had to be appealed for, as many enlisted at the outbreak of war and were turned down for medical reasons, others were rejected because of their occupation against their will and many who were called in the ballot did not want to be appealed for. We are camped outback, over 20 miles to the nearest small town and over 10 to the nearest village, and for some over 100 miles from home. At first we got ordinary leave, that is statute holidays such as Good Friday, etc. Then train travel was restricted, so we could not go home on them. Later all such holidays were stopped altogether. We work a full six-day week with Sunday off to clean up the camp, etc. We live in tents and do our own cooking in a leaky cook« house. All washing, etc., is done outside. If we ever do get to town there are no clubs to welcome us or even Sunday pictures, and, of course, we pay full fare on trains, etc. As regards pay we get nearly, and in some cases just over, £7 per week, out of which we pay taxes, food and cjothing at country rates, national savings, patriotic donations, etc. I make the point that we are all in this Avar, and whether we fight or work for victory not many of us have much choice. Let us understand each other and with true unity— TOGETHER TO VICTORY.