EVENTS IN N.Z.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2270, 2 October 1914, Page 6

EVENTS IN N.Z.

INCREASED PAY FOR THE TROOPS

»S PER DAY FOR PRIVATES

'MEN AT THE FORTS

GRIEVANCES ATTENDED TO

STATEMENT BY DEFENCE MINISTER

• A statement in regard, to a proposed increase of pay to the men of the Ex- 1 peditioiia'ry Force and other matters 1 connected with the force was made in tho House yesterday afternoon by the Minister of Defence (the I-loii. James Allen). • *Ir. Allen' said that when tlio rates of pay were recently fixed, it was understood' that it was on the same scale . as that in force when the contingents were sent to South Africa. Sihco then, however, he had looked further into the- matter,, and had found that at the , time of the South African war there wero two rates of pay'for privates. Tho privatos in the qarlier contingents received four shillings a day, and this rate had been fixed for the present Expeditionary Force. Further examination, however, showed that the men .in- tho later South African contingents received ss. a day. ' In Australia # the privates were being paid five shillings, with an additional one shilling' a .day as deferred pay. .This deferred pay .was i not paid to tho men, 'and it could not be allocated to anyone dependent upon 'them. It would bo -held until the rc- | turn of the men. It was rather difficult to understand exactly what tho position was in regard to. the extra shilling a day. The Australian Government, however, had not so far adopted tho provision that had been made in New Zealand by statute for the benefit of widows, ■children, and injured men. He believed that the Commonwealth Government was doing something of. the kind now. The rates of pay adopted in Australia were t rather higher than in New- Zealand, especially in regard to the officers: .He had suggested to his ■colleagues that the rate of payfor New Zealand privates should be increased from'4s. to 55.. a day, and that of the corporals from ss. 6d. to 6s. a day, andhis colleagues had agreed to the proposal. " This would bring the rates of pay up to those paid to the later South African contingents. In addition to making provision for widows, children, and injured men, the Government would also keep the superannuation contributions of members of the Publip Service joining the Expeditionary Force paid un. It was proposed that the increase in tho rates of pay should be made retrospective, and that tlioy should apply as from September -1- —to the men who had al.ready gone abroad, as . well as to. those• who had not yet left our shores. The Men In tho Forts. The Minister said- that, he could not yet make a definite announcement in regard .to the men who had been mobilised for service in New Zealand.' \ These men were in- a different position - from that of those who were going abroad. Tho latter would not be ablo to exercise even an indirect control of their businesses, and their lives would be subject to greater risk than the lives of* the men remaining in the Dominion. Considers- | tion would be, given to the case of the men serving in the Dominion, but whilst •he could not say yet what would be done, he thought that a separation allowance should bo allowed to married men who had wives and children dependent on them. • There had been, . proceeded the Minister, some complaints' from nien in tho forts, and thoso under his notice had been inquired into.' Ho had himself'visited all the forts, at the four; centres, and tho only complaint he had heard ! was with regard to boot allowance. This complaint ho had first heard at Ngaliauranga some few weeks ago. Of tho mon who had gone- into tho battery there, some had purchased boots from , the Department, and somo others who had gone into camp with old boots found that they quickly wore out. At Ngaliauranga ho had told the officers jn charge that the Government would See the mon through their troublo ribout boots, and instructions were Riven to tlie Department to supply boots where required. He believed, however, that there had been somo difficultie# about supplying boots, because of the enormous demands mado upon tho manufacturers; but ho was informed that there had been forwarded to tin? forts a' supply. : of boots to meet all present requirements.' Tho Government intended, to see that whilst the men were in the forts they would bo proberly "shod.

There had been complaints also as to tho supply of straw at some of the camps. The Quartermaster-General had visited the batteries, round about Wellington, and had reported that the supply of straw was now adequate. ' He had made inquiries about tho food supplied to the troops, and ho was satisfied that tho food ou tho ships was excellent, and that in the camps also tho food was very good. There was a shortago of fresh vegetables, but these were difficult to obtain 'at this season. Tho medical officers had visited the forts and had reported to him. In somo instances there were improvements that ought to be made, and those would be made at once. Generally speaking, tlio sanitary arrangements at the camps were very good indeed.

Alleged Misconduct. > Some complaints had como to him as to the treatment' of reservists. "Now, Bir," said Mr: Allen, "I find that there are reservists and reservists, just as there aro men and men. Some of these are excellent men, and no word can he said against them, but they aro not all of that quality, I am sorry to say. There have been complaints about tlio conduot of men parading the streets. lam sorry to say that in some instances' these are not without foundation. As far as I can gather our own New Zealand troops are not to blame, 'fhoso of tlio reservists who are to blamo will be gathered together, and will bo shipped to England at the first opportunity. I liopo tnat evil has been stopped. Mr. Davey: Aro there many of them ? Mr. Allen: I don't think there are many of them, but circumstantial complaints havo como to mo in writing, and I had them immediately investigated. Tho result is that as far as I can gather our own Now Zealandors aro not to blame.

Ho appealed to members to bring before him any complaints coming under their rotico, • preferably after inquiring themselves into tho truth of . the stories. "My object, and tlio' object of the Government," said Mi'. Allen, "is to placo these men on tho best possible footing, and send them away, satisfied that Parliament and tho country havo dono'for them all that it is possible to do,"

Sir Joseph Ward Approves. Sir' Joseph Ward said that the statement made by Mr. Allen was a very important one. Ho was vorv glad indeed to hoar such a statement. Ho did not want to go into the question of complaints, though ho had received many, lie recognised that there wore many difficulties in tho way of sending »way .givJ- * i—-j coaticgoat of men, but

ho wanted to see them treated well. He bad heard that tho non-cuinniissioned officers wero not receiving an amount proportionate to what officers were receiving in accordance with regulations. Their application's for a £5 kit allowance, ho understood, had been refused at Headquarters. As to the difference iu pay between the officers here and in Australia, for which he (Sir Joseph Ward) was responsible, he wished to say this: that though Lord Kitchener had recommended the higher scale hero Now Zealand could not afford to give such high pay as Australia. Had his Government agreed to pay tho higher scale it would-have meant "tho turning of tho lioso of very vicious hot' water" upon tho scheme, which would probably have had a detrimental effect upon it.

The Prime Minister (Right Hon. W. F. Massoy) stated that, as the men witli tho troops would have difficulty in meeting their superannuation payments, tlio Government. had arranged tn meet tho whole of the payments in tho men's 1 behalf without'charging them anything. Mr. Massey said ho thought this a proper courso to take; the men wero doing their duty to tlio country, and tho Government must do its duty to tho men.

. • Allowance to Officers. Tim Hon. J. Allen said, respecting tho payment of officers, that tho regulations provided that officers on joining tlio Force for tllie first timo should get an allowance of £15. In the'case of members of the Expeditionary Force tho allowance had been increased to £!20. These officers had not only to provide themselves with uniforms and other equipment, but with field glasses, comforts, saddles, and various other things, and, therefore, he thought the allowance ought to have been , increased.' . Regarding the pay of noncommissioned officers, he remarked that flic highest pay for <i regimental quar-termaster-sergeant in tho South African campaign was Bs. 6d.; for the present campaign the rate was 95., with (in addition) ,an allowonco of Is. 6d. In other instances where the rate of pay was similar to fh-s South African rate there was tho allowance"os Is. 6cl. to bo added. As to the pay of tlio officers of the New Zealand Force he had 110. complaint to make, our rate was lowor than Australia's. There was good i reason why we should not- adopt the j higher rate Australia had decided upon. Australia had been ■ advised by an Imperial officer who was accustomed to Imperial ..conditions, but in the citizen army of New Zealand. it' would bo a good, thing to inculcate simplicity and avoid extravagance. . , Sir Joseph Ward, referring again to tho . N.G.O.'s allowance, said he had been told-:that while officers got £5 extra (making a, £2-0 allowance), warrant officers and N.C.O.'s. received nothing. It. was stated to him that a voucher for the extra amount for N.C.O.'s recommended by tho adjutant of the battalion l"id been forwarded but not granted. He thought that should be reconsidered. • ' Hon. Mr. Alien: Is it accurate? Sir Joseph Ward: I don't know. A Foolish Story. Mr.- Allen said lie would make inquiry: He pointed out that some very inaccurate and untruo,statements wero being circulated and he read portion of a letter ho had received stating that a nian whose name and political feeling ho would not divulge was' . spreading through tlio country statements that tho Government were sending our) soil diers Home, but that in tho event of their being wounded in Europe no provision was being made to look after them, or' to have them broiight back again, and in fact that tho Government' were not making provision to bring any of them back again. .Mr. Atmore: Ton silly to read out.

Mr. Allen: Tho statement may be too silly to out, but it is beine made and requires denial. The Government had made every provision not only to take care of/the wounded, and to take them back, but also to provide for the widows of any who might lose their lives.

Sir Joseph Ward said ho did not know what tjio political colour of tho mar. _ was who h;id tho letter, but .if ho was circulating such statements ho was worse than a madman. It was provided in the Defence Act that wounded soldiers would be properly <-arod_ four'and brought back. If anyone associated with the Liberal Party made such statements ho personally would not lie a party to it, hut would disown any connection with it.

Transporting Reservists, Mr. Malcolm. (Clutlia) suggested that the' whole of tho Imperial reservists should be sent home in ordinary ships and not in the troopships.

Mr. Al,len said cirpumstances had arisen that made it desirable to send F,ome, but not all of the reservists Home in ordinary ships. There were somo who wanted to stand by the New Zealand troops and to join with thorn.

Mr. Hanaii: It's a pity to brand t'lie m

Mr. Allen: I am not branding them, hit some of them will certainly have to go with the mail boats.

Airspace on the Ships. Mr. E. \ Newman (Rangitikei) said there liad been complaints about' overcrowding on the Aaiawa,.

Allen said provision ; had been made to remove 60 of the men from tlmt ship. The other ships had alt been inspected by the medical officers who had certified that the accommodation pro-, vided met the requirements.

Pay of Maori Contingent. Tho Hon. A. T. Ngata asked if tho Maori contingent would receive the rate of pay of ss. per day for troopers ; which the other-' New Zealand troops were Receiving. The Minister of Defence replied that nil troops leaving New Zealand (including the Maoris) would refceive tho'rate of pay mentioned.