CORRESPONDENCE. Government Ways.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 204, 29 August 1916, Page 4

CORRESPONDENCE.

Government Ways.

! TO THE EDITOR.] Sir,—l think our Government is pursuing a penny wise and pound foolish policy, when on the one hand they ask a recruit (after at his own expense making himself medically and dentally fit) to pay for his brass buttons (or only bone ones) fixed on bis uniform, and on the other hand they can shovel out compassionate allowances from £IOO to £IOOO with a light heart and war increases of £SO to £l5O to men already drawing large salaries. When the producers put in their daims they are told that there are no funds to spare owing to war expenses etc. Still the Government goes on boring a hole through the Alps although when completed the line cannot possibly compete with water carriage. We should be looking ahead for possible compassionate claims when our men come back from the front. I think this annual compassionate business is a strategic move to familiarise us with the idea. For instance an M.L.C. member considers they are underpaid and another of that ilk thinks that their remuneration should not be compared with that doled out to the worker ! Then our M.P. membors are looking forward to a superannuation scheme for decayed members. And yet we are continually being told we must practice economy and provide for the future, and so on adnauseam.—l am. etc., " BILL BUTTONS."