THE NAVY

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3126, 3 July 1917, Page 7

THE NAVY

Sir,—l crave a little of your space to point out what appears an anomaly m connection with Hie above. Constantly the amount of pay that soldiers should be given is discussed from one ond of New Zealand to tho other in the Press; Tarely do we find the treatment of Jack Tar ventilated in that respect. If, as 6hown to me yesterday, tho pay received by tho sailors of tho Philomel is, as stated by one of tho crow, it is surprising lo nio that somo action has not been taken ere this to have their position considered. Tho statement eimply. was as follows: "On activo service we pay

Bd.. per diem of the Is. 'Id. allowed for our rations, consisting of meat, bread, vegetables, tea, coffee, cocoa; the other ,8(1. being placed to our credit, and-can u -'■■s.wn to pay, for anj; farther, luxury.

we fancy, or in cash. But now, in port, wo have to find onreelres in everything on Is. Id. per day." Sir, if that, is the case, when all the necessaries of life aro at famine- prices almost, the. Tar is on a starvation diet, unless ho oncroachea upon his •Iβ. daily wage. Somo of those mon have a wifo to support, and how about tho youngsters, if any? Short commons, too, ono would think. lam of opinion that tho sailors of the Navy, ■tho British Navy that makes the world go round, find that, easier of ucoomplishlncnt than to exist on Is. ■id. per day in AYellington. just now. Hoping these few lines may draw tho attention of tho powers that be, and your paper's powerful influence, to verify, and, if possible, rectify what, in the face of tho foregoing statement, seems a grosi) injustico to a branch of > the servico to which we aro indebted more than any other for our present position in tho .world to-day. Thankinsr you in anticipation,—l am, otc, H. A. W. M'KENZIE.

June 27, 1917. [On inquiry, we learn that tho ration allowance (which is supplementary to tho nay) to men on sea servico on ships of tho Australasian Squadron is Is. Bd. per day. 01' this amount 10d. hs held as payment for tho standard rations issued, iind tho other 10d. may bo expended in the purchase of extras, or may be drawn in cash. Men in ships in port draw Is. 4d. per day, and receive no rations. 'Die daily wage, of an A.B. is is. per day. If a man is married, separation allowances of Is. a day for tho wife and 9d. a day for overy child are paid. Reserve men also get ss. a day,'and a war retainer, of £\ a month, which they may allow to accumulate, or may havo paid to their wives. They also get the separation allowances on the same scale as the other men. The other men, the volunteers, receive Is. a day, as stated, but they get Is. a day deferred pay, which thoy cannot draw until discharged.]