LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 191, 8 May 1919, Page 8

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

WAR BONUS Sir,—ln a paragraph in your issue of Tuesday you published an article in reference to the proposed war bonus, and in it gave tho impression that tho Minister of Defeuco could not sco his way' clear to make any alterations. Since the proposed scheme was first \ published no clear account of how tho soldier would benefit 'lias been published, and I think it would bo in tho interests of returned men to work out their bonus and comparo it with other scales. Taking a private in the New Zealand I'orcos drawing , r js. per day, and who sensed four years overseas, ho is entitled to £20 for the four years; if a married man he is entitled to ,£2B, truly a princely sum when one considers he ! has had no advance in wages since the war started nnd no yearly bonus; as was paid to so many ,who did not proceed' overseas. Tho Canadian schemo would pay a private at ss. a day ,«5 155., and the English system Ji9s 10s., while America proposes to pay all her soldiers one year's pay. It is argued that Canada did not pay separation allowances. Is this to bo used as a lever, against our single men who did not get separation allowances? England, which bore tho brunt of the war, paid' separation and children's allowances, and now pays a handsome'bonus.' , I am sure that if the public and returned men realised what a meagre pit- • tance the New Zealand authorities are offering those who brought the war to 6uch a.successful conclusion they would bring pressure to bear on the Minister so that tiro New Zealand bonus would not compare unfavourably with other Dominions or our Allies.—l am, etc., INTERESTED. '