KING'S EIGHTEENPENCE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 113, 5 February 1918, Page 6

KING'S EIGHTEENPENCE

A RISE FOR THE NAVY AND . ARMY. "No decision of the Government during the war has been received at Westminster with such instant and universal approval as the new scale of pay for sailors and soldiers, which Mr. Bonar Law announced," says the London "Times."

"Tho first scheme submitted by the Government some weeks ago was open to such serious criticism that it was referred to a Cabinet Committee under Sir Edward Carson for reconsideration. The result is a revised scheme, which boldly goes to the root of the matter. No man lighting for his country will in future receive less, than Is. 6d. a day. Increases will come more quickly than before. The increased charge is approximately as follows:— ■

First year £65,000,000 Second year £69,000,000 Tho feature is that the historic "shilling a day" becomes Is. 6d., without any stoppage for dependants. The 3s. 6d. a week deducted from the man's pay for his wife will now be paid by the' State.. In the Is. Cd. a day (lance-corporals Is. 9d., corporals 25.) is included the 3d. of Class II proficiency pay hitherto given after two years' service. Those who qualify Class,l proficient will get an extra 3tl after six months' service, instead of two years. An extra 3d. and similar benefits will go to sergeants. Further, all ranks get an extra Id. a day for every complete year's service since August 4, 1914. Hospital stoppages are Men who completed 22 yeaiV service for pension may have the pension paid in addition to pay as from the outbreak of war.

Tho increases to the Navy and Marines are similar as regards abolition of stoppages and pensions. A.li.'s jrpt 2d. a day more, leading ratings 3d., petty officers 3d., with an extra 3d' to A.. 13.'s after three years instead of after sis. Besides free kit, the mess allowance is raised from 5-Jd. to 7d. and the pension for 22 years' service is improved. As to dependants, the State pays up to Ss. 6d. for allotments of ss. or over, and of smaller ones tho State leaves the sailor to nay only Is. 6d. Where a boy allots 2s. the State pays Is. of it.

A supplementary Navy estimate provides for an addition of 50,000 officers and men to tho number required during the year ending March 31, 1918. The original estimate was for 400,000 of all ranks.