"EQUALITY OF SACRIFICE"

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3143, 28 July 1917, Page 2

"EQUALITY OF SACRIFICE"

Sir,—We have read a deal during tho past few weeks of tho above, but so far, I think, no satisfactory scheme has been evolved. With the calling up of tho Second Division many points will need careful consideration in order that tho men conscripted and their dependant's will not be in a worse position than the men who, though called, may be rejected because of physical defects. It is bordering on absurdity for anyono to state that the Second Division men are keenly anxious to be sent to the front. No doubt many are willing to "do their bit," but feel that, though willing to mako the personal sacrifice, it. is unfair to leave a young family. Thn Second Division League has dono good work by drawing the attention of the Government to some matters, but it has overlooked the most important point, in 'that thero should be some equality of sacrifice. Do what wo may, perfect equality cannot be obtained, for if ono man sacrifices his all and yet retains his life, he has not dono as much as the other man who has given his lifo for tho cause. A fair equality could be obtained by fixing tho pay of all conscripts (privates, non-coms, and officers) and the allowances for dependants at certain reasonable sums to suit the number of dependants, and to such sums must be added special allowances for life insurance, education, etc., as will be mentioned later. Persons not conscripted to be allowed sums, based on the number of dependants, to equal the sums allowed to the conscripts, and to such sums must be added special allowances for lifo insur'anoo, education, etc., as above-mentioned. All other moneys earned to be taken by tho Government as income or war tax. It has lieon stated that the cost of collection of incomo tax from the small man would exceed the amount of tax payable, yet the solution of this would bo that the employer would act a3 collector, inasmuch as tho employee would be made to attach stamps to the pay voucher to the value of tho difference between the amount allowed by law and the amount received as wages. To illustrate this, wo will say that a workman is receiving ,£4 as a weekly wage. Tho exemption for this mail would be, say, ,£3 155., and a ss. stamp would be attached to tho pay sheet. The Labour Department has the power to inspect all pay sheets or wage books, so thero would be no extra cost to the country excepting tho cost of the manufacture of stamps.

Another noint that has been overlooked is the education of children. It is important that the children be educated in a proper manner, and where a conscript has been paying fees to any school or college tho Government must allow the amount of fees so paid as an education allowance; other people must be allowed to claim the amount so paid as a special exemption from income or war tax.

Lift', insurnnce premiums must be treated in a similar manner, tho conscript to be allowed as extra pay the amount of his lifo insurance premiums and the other people to havo special exemption from income tax of the amount paid for lifo insurance.

Other commitments would also have to l>e taken into consideration, and adjustments made for instalments on properties purchased, contributing shares in companies, etc. Municipal matters would require adjustment, and it is important that rates be reduced. To this end I would suggest that tlio hospitals bo nationalised, so that there would be no charge against tho ratepayers for hospital and charitable aid.

! Tho City Council employees who-have gone to tho front are, I believe, being allowed the difference between til soldier's pay and the salary of the officer; tho scheme was just under a voluntary system, but cannot stand under compulsion. Many of tho Second Division men aro ratepayers, and at present a ratepayer soldier is paying in rates tho part cost of extra pay lo soldiers who wero City Council employees. Tho same remarks apply to school teachors, and the position is unfair and unjust-to tho bulk of tho people. It will be said that my remarks aro Socialistic. Tlie.v may bo, but conscription is no better, for all conscrinis aro wiual inasmuch as an uneducated man whose earning power is but ,-C3 per week is placed on the samo mark as a highlytrained man whoso earning power is sonio thousands per anuuni. It is an old sea custom that an officer must not ordor a man to risk his life on a job unless ho (tho officor) ia willing lo lead tho way. t wonder what tho wife of a Cabinet Minister or an M.P. would say if she were asked to nav house rent and to exist on a few shillings a day plus a lew pence per dav for the maintenance and education of each child. In a democratic country tho Government has r.o right lo conscript a man on terms other than those which any member of

the Government would 1)6 willing to obey tlio call.

If the Government will fix the pay and allowances of Second Division men at similar rates to the amount. to bo allowed for cost of living to persons who are to remain in the Dominion, then no 0110 will have any cause of complaint, and (hero will bo unanimity in the feelings of the Second Division men to do their duty, for each conscript will know that his dependants will be oil the same footing as the dependants of all others.— I am, etc., TINEJyt BESHCE. Wellington) July 20, 1917,