PAY AND ALLOWANCES OF IMPERIAL OFFICERS.

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 200, 13 May 1918, Page 7

PAY AND ALLOWANCES OF IMPERIAL OFFICERS.

■Sir,—May I criticise the statement Jnade to tho Defence Commission regarding tho pay and allowances of Imperial officers,serving in the Dominion? There appears little eec[uenco in tho order of .comparing these' officers, making it some.■what difficult for- tho ordinary layman io follow. For examples somo aro credited with war service in the present war, others aro not. Others have their iiljow«nc69 "camouflaged" -under "as for .similar ranks in the N.Z.5.C.," whilojothers liave thoir allowances made out 'in detail per day instead of per year, which [would appear fur more formidable. Some appear to have been specially selected for their jobs, .while others to havo been ■"washed ashore in New Zealand," notably those who have seen active service dti tho present War. Travelling allowance is put. iii for some officers, as if the others did not get these actual out-of-pocket expenses,' which nro compared to enormously substantial "profits" made i>y "camp allowances." As an admirer of the Imperial officer I submit that there should bo more equality of treatment. Why should somo lave their pay increased, for I refuse to be gulled by the humbugging term •"allowances," by from ,£2OO ,to £M, .while others got nothing, when the work done has beon equally good? There is much' lyrong in the state of ■ Denmark whon sufch anomalies occur. Tho whole question of differentiation botween camps nnd Headquarters pay is indelibly stain- j ed-by such flagrant, injustice. In the camps free quarters and cheap messing are provided. In tho Headquarters both iiro ■ items of vast oxpense. Yet it is J tho camp staffs who' get tho increases,! mot the town staff. The Commission has xevealed much, but nothine more extraordinary than the fact that a temporary Captain in camp, who but a couple of years or so ago was a sergeant-major, and who .has not been to the front, is now getting more pay than some lieu-tenant-colonels at Headquarters, his expenses being a quarter or so of theirs. iAnd tlhis but one of many similar instances of gross injustice and misuse of public money. I speak 'for those who cannot speak for themselves, knowing that the good officer' is tongue-tied by | his sense of duty and loyaitv to his I commanding officers. It is this very Jfact that prompts my taking up the cud- J gels in their behalf, and it is the one | •which ■ is taken _ advantage of by those ■who would strike those -who cannot With honour strike, back. The good officers' very loyalty is taken advantage of fcy such.—l aw etc., NATANTES.