SOLDIERS’ PAY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1642, 25 November 1916, Page 4

SOLDIERS’ PAY.

OPINION IN CHRISTCHURCH.

For the purpose of assisting recruiting, Mr J. M’Comhs, as a member of the Christchurch City Council, recently proposed that the council should make up the pay of titty voluntary recruits to £2 18s lOd a. week. The special committee which was sot up to report on the proposal presented the result of its deliberations in the form of a report to Iho council on Monday evening. The committee stated: “The special committee has fully considered Councillor M’Comb’s proposal to make up the wages of Jifty recruits lo £2 ISs lOd per week. Tin's would involve an expenditure of £3,74S per annum, equal to about 2.8 per cent, on Ihe present total rales. A rate of one-sixth of a penny on unimproved value, or one-iourtcenlli of n penny on capital value, would find (he money. As the question of police is involved, the committee has no recommendation to make. The committee is of opinion (hat it is the duty of the Stall 1 to make mure adequate provision for all soldiers serving at the front. To 31st Oclobcr, the City Council has already paid £1,038 los 8d to supplement military pay to its employ ces.” Tin* report was adopled a Her the word “more" had been deleted from the second las! sentence. Mr M’Comhs moved: "That the council engage twenty-live physically lil men prepared lo go to the from and make up their military, pay, including Sunday pay, to £3 a week.” The motion was lost by 10 votes lo 7.

Mr ,). H. ll;iyvvard moved: •‘Thai under (he present Empire need for soldiers, (his eoiuieii strongly reeoninieiids the Government lo make (he necessary legislation to provide special financial assistance to those men who have (inancial obligations, and are naturally anxious to make proper provision for their liabilities.” The Mayor said that the motion had his hearty support, for (he Government would never go an inch in advance of public opinion. The British Government had made such provision, and it was not to the credit of the New Zealand Government that it had failed to do so. Mr •). M’Combs said that the motion proposed (inancial assistance lo those who were lucky enough to liave property, and none to those who were not so lucky. The logical thing was to 'make a straight-out and adequate grant.

Mr Hayward's motion wa-. carried on the voicos-