GRATITIES FOR SOLDIERS.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 September 1919, Page 3

GRATITIES FOR SOLDIERS.

GOVERNMENT’S DECISION. WELLINGTON, September 15. The Government came to its final conclusions about the scale of gratuities o be offered to soldiers of the Expeditionary Force to-day It has evidently been agreed that nothing is to be said about the matter until a statement is made to the House. This statement is to be made to-morrow afternoon. It is understood that the amount of money that the Government has decided to spend is about five millions sterling. This 'should indicate that tne rate is to bo something better than a shilling a day, but no predictions can be made, because it is not known whether the Government intends to propose that payment shall be by a flat ra e or whether there shall be a varying scale according to rank. The general impression is that the payment will be on a flat rate. This at any rate, is the opinion and the wish of members of Parliament.

THE RECENT DEPUTATION. DR BOXER’S “PERSONAL AND OFFICIAL REGRET.’’

WELLINGTON, September 15. _ I Dr Eirnest Boxer of Hastings, president of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers Association, has telegraphed to the Prime Minister, expressing his personal and official regret at the attitude and action of last week’s deputation of Wellington returned soldiers, stating that such was in complete antagonism to the spirit and decision of -the Teeent Christchurch Conference. The executive had not considered the gratuity in any sense as a demand, but a gift from the country; therefore the matter was, entirely in the hands of the Government.