SOLDIERS' PAY

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3139, 18 July 1917, Page 3

SOLDIERS' PAY

THE SEW ZViAIATsn AST) TREKCE BATES COMPARED. Great avo tho differences of time and place. In New Zealand there is a more or Jess continuous appeal for moro money for tho men who arc going away to fight our battles in France and elsewhere, ami most of t'hoso who have accepted service doubtless beliove that the allowance is small. enough, even though in addition to the 6s. a day a private earns, he is being clothed, fed, and housed. It 13 not possible to ascertain what wages aro being paid to the enemy soldiers of Germany, Austria, Turkey, and Bulgaria, but in tho case of tho French, troops, recruited in New Caledonia, the rate of pay for a private is 2id. per day at all times, when he is not actually fighting. When he is in the trenches and otherwise actively engaged in fighting the enemy at the risk of his own life he gets an extra 3d., making in all 7-Sd. per day. As soon, however, as he leaves the trenches for billets or a hospital his rate of pay drops to 2Jd. a day. The French soldier cannot understand the 'lavish" wages that New Zealand and Australian soldiers got. As a matter of fact, the French workers of Now Caledonia aro paid on a low scale, judged by New Zealand standards. Those employed in tho nickel and chrome mines receive from. 2s. to 6s. a day, according to the class of work in which they aro employed. Carpenters and other skilled tradesmen receive the equivalent to Cs. a, day, stokers 2s. a, day,- \aWvters from 2s. to 4s. a day. living is fairly cheap, and there were few opportunities for leading "Hip gay life." owing to the strict rule of the Government. Some time ago a Sydney company had the notion of making Noumea the Monte Carlo of tho Pacific, and was prepared to spend some thousands of pounds in creating a casino and srounds, by the beautiful bench, but tho' Government would not consent. As the result of conservative rule and the shutting out of capital Noumea was. after fifty years, a mere island village, ■without tramways, with primitive architecture, and a short railway that created more smiles than revenue. On tho other hand, the Germans had been allowed to establish themselves fairly solidly in the island, and the grip t\wy liiu\ on the mineral output wheii (he war broke out was a testimony to their forethought. Krupp's are said to have owned the chrome mines, and when war "broke out there were ten vessels in ■Noumea. \f;\e\\ w'vft\ chrome ore so\- 'Hamburg. The nickel mines of New Caledonia, -which employ a thousand men, are the second largest works of the kind in the world. MANY IN WELLINGTON. How many, many Wellington people— hard-worked men, tired-out women— there are whose experience is the same as that of the Wellington woman who 1 speaks here:— Mrs. G. Sutherland, 5 Frankville Terrace, Wellington, says:^—"For a longtime I-suffered agony from backache, which ) was at times so bad that it completely crippled me. The pain centred just I aVjovo tho kidneys and cut tike a knife. This ailment was most distressing, and ' the constant pain wade me tired and languid. 1 tow my kidneys were at fault, as I had several other symptoms that clearly showed they wero not working p\openj. After \wvng aU sorts of remedies without deriving any benefit I heard of Moan's Backache Kidney Pills, so decided to give them a trial. Well, they worked wonders,-four bottles eu'ecting a perfect euro, and 1 have bpen free of the. torture ever since. My kidneys are now strong and healthy, and I feel splendid, thanks to Doan's Pilte." If you are sick of "feel badly" begin taking Doan's Backache Kidney Pills at once, for as soon as your kidneys are well they will help all the other organs to health. A trial will convince anyone. i Doan's Backache Kidney Pills are sold \>y aft ctamtte tmo. storekeepers at 3s. per bottle (six bottles, 16s. Gd.), or will ba posted on receipt of price by FosterM'Clellan Co., 76 Pitt Street, Sydney. But, be" sure you get DOAN'S.— AM.