RATES OF PAY

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 22, 21 October 1919, Page 9

RATES OF PAY

» FOR THE N.Z.E.F. RETURNED MEN ALREADY SATISFIED 4 Tho conference of the N.Z.R.S.A. yesterday considered a remit from Wellington that the Now Zealand Expeditionary Force rate of pay should bo raised to that of tho A.1.F., and bo retrospective. In moving the remit Mr. A. B. Siov. wright said that tho New Zealand troops I had been associated with the Australians on almost every batllcfront. and the conference should demand of tho Prime Minister that the pay of tho N.Z.E.I'. should bo raised to that of the Australian Forces. The conference had already denied, the Wellington soldiers an increase in gratuity, but lie trusted that it would not deny the soldier the request for an increase in pay, and show that it nas "<l"wn on them all the way." (Laughtei.) Mr. J. D. Harper seconded the motion in order that it) could be disThe president (Dr. E. Boxer) said that if the demand were granted it woiim ' mean an expenditure of ;C10,000,000 X 15.000.000. ■ . „,:ii I . Mr. Sievwright: I don't tlunk it will exceed .E5,000,000. Dr Boxer: That would not cover ft third of the •total bill that is suggested Nf"itTa matter of .£5,000,000 or JC15.000.000, of course, it is nothing, remarked Mr. E. W. Inder (Auckland), • wnidst laughter. "It is all ripnt, have to pay it. We Auckland aelegat.' have conio down here with a perlcc" open mind, but after hearing Mr. oifi • Wright's able-address I am still not convinced." (Laughter.) Their duty as an association hail been to fight the Government and get all they could up to the f stent of a fair deal. Although they had. to fight the Government very considerably on' the matter of pensions, they had "won out." » . Mr. Sievwright: No. . Continuing, Mr. Inder said that except for "isolated cases perhaps, they had r,e. ceived ft "fair deal." Compared .with the French and . English soldiers, the New Zealanders were millionaires. In demanding more pay they would be putting Is. in their pockets, of which they would have to pay back 113 d. . Every penny of that .£15,000,000 . would -. have to be paid back by themselves. Instead of. asking for moro money for themselves they should try to get increased benefits for the disabled and sick men, and to make some provision for proper educational facilities for fatherless children. That would bo showing a really generous spirit. It had to be remembered that tho returned men had received benefits in tho way of gratuities, repatriation, separation allowances, etc. "If there is any more money to pay away," remarked Mr, Inder, "giyo it to those who need it, and not put it into our own greedy pockets." Mr. Sievwright: Who said "greedy"? Mr. Inder: 1 did; I repeat it, and I say it for tho third time, so that the gentleman can hoar it. (Laughter.) Mr. V. Potter (Auckland) also opposed the remit. .He agreed with the views expressed by Mr. Inder. Had tho Australians received the same benefits as the Now Zealand soldier? It was wrong 1 for tho soldiers to como bock and demand all that they could get. Ho regarded the gratuity as a temporary loan at a high rate of interest. . "I don't wish to l'etcr to Mr. Sievwright," addvl Mr. Potter. "but there are certain men out for notoriety, and out to get the vote ol tho return-id soldier. 1 am not one oi those' lucn; I stand for principle and the advancement of" the Dominion." (Ap. plause.) Returned soldiers should be en,, couraged to work, and to become indepenuem, but such a remit as that muieil by -jUr. Siovwrigut did not tend in tnat direction. ill'. G. Mitchell (Balclutha.) said that, generally, che returned soldiers—who had not gone away, to got what they could yet out of tlie war, but to save tho L-ouutry-wert) satisfied with the pay they lecehed. Instead of asking for more money for themselves they should try to help the afflicted mon and tho fatherless. "This is a remit that stinks in the nostrils," remarked Mr, R. Reid (Blenheim). He did not wish associated with such a remit, for he ,felt that it was his duty to help the disabled men. Tlit remit only came from a certain body of Wellington men. and Wellington men generally should not feel offended if it were rejected. In reply, Mr. Sievwright said '.bat other speakers had no tnonopolj in having tho -interest* of th" returned men nt. heart: The Wellington" soldiers wero out for justice and fair (raiment. The remit, was lost. Mr. Sievwright being tho only one to vote in its favour.