PAY AND ALLOWANCES.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 May 1918, Page 3

PAY AND ALLOWANCES.

WHAT THE WIFE GETS

“The great majority of the members of the Second Division League are working men,” said a speaker at one of the meetings of the league in the South Island this week. “They are entirely dependent upon their earnings, which will cease when they enter camp. It is for that reason that they ask tho Government to improve the allowances, in,order that the wives and children mr.y tw properly provided for.”

This statement betrays a lack of aoqaintance with, the actual rates, of pav and allowance, and with the earnings of workers, skilled and unskilled, in New Zealand. Married men with children will not suffer any financial loss on entering camp unless .their earnings in civilian life exceeded £4 a week. This is the view taken by Ministers and military authorities, and it is supported by tho figures. A weekly £4 5s a week is equivalent to rather more than 15s, a day in civilian employment. There are not many workers getting 15s a day for five and a half days a week all the year round.

The Class B soldier (wife and one child) is paid 5s a day, plus 3s a day for the wife and Is 6d a day for the child, a total of £3 6s 6d a week. There is no loss for broken time. The soldier receives in addition his own food, hoard, clothing and medical and dental attenuance. Tho value of these services may fairly he assessed at £1 a week. Tim man with two children receives in cash £3 17s a week, and tho man with three receives £4 7s 6d, with, the same additions. The payments may bo summarised thus: •

The position may be stated from the point of view of the wife, who lias to maintain the homo during tho absence of her husband on service. If the husband takes Is Gd a day for his personal expenditure, he will have 10s 6d a week probably quite as much as ho could afford to take for pocket money in civilian life. The wife will receive the balance and she will not he required to find food or clothing for her husband during his period of service. Her weekly income will be:

Very many of the married men already in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force have allotted 4s a day of their pay, retaining 7s a week for their personal expenditure. They are still better off than most of their brothers in arum in Europe. The weekly income of the wife is then: Class B£2 19s Gd; Class C. £3 10s; Class D £4,os Gd.

In cash. Total £ s. d. £ s. d. Class B (one chilli) ... 3 6 G 4 6 6 Class C. (2 children) 3 17 0 4 17 0 Class D (3 children) 4 7 6 5 7 6

£ s. d. Class It. (1 child) ... 2 16 0 Class C. (2 children) ... ... 3 6 G Class D (3 children) ... ... 3 17 0