LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 56, 29 November 1917, Page 6

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

HOME SERVICE PAY

Sir,—ln your issue of the 23rd instant—local and general column, first paragraph—you detail the new scale oj separation allowances for the wives and children of soldiers. Quoting the chairman of the Wellington War Funds Association, the above scale—as from January I—was given out 3s. per day for wife and Is. per day for child. This morning's issue of your recognised valuable paper here in camp gives a totally different version of the above paragraph. I write on behalf of myself and other home service men (over 51 years of age), who are "doing their bit" from daylight till after dark in camp for the benefit of the recruits, in preparing their daily necessaries and attending to their wants and comforts, which are not by any means few. Saturday's report concluded by saying that" the new scale of allowances for liome service men is to be considered later, etc. Well, it would be a word in time, Mr. just advise tho powers that be that the home service men will not stand being gruclled sitting tight. How can a married man with tliree children pay a weekly rental of 355. for a five-roomed house in tho city and only get the ss. per day? Where is the money to come from to pay their food, school books, clothes, etc. ? If they are not catered for m this new scale now under consideration, let them beware lest they (the powers) raise the ire of wives' and mothers in one great cry for their mainten-ance.-r.rn, etc., mn _ mK [The Defence authorities state that in making any change in the system of paving home service men they will have "record to the value of the service performed. The matter is now under consideration. The payment of separation allowances on the new scale to men who arc living in their own homes while performing home service duties, it is pointed out, would produce serious anomalies. For example, nn orderly with, a wife three children would recen-e os. a day pay 4p. a day messing allowance, .Is. a dav for th«" wife, and Is. a day for ench'child, making a total wage of £5: 5s a w>ok. The pny of a »" mo SPJvice sergeant with a similar familv under the new .vnlo of allowance would bo £fi Is. a week.]