"JACK'S" PAY-DAY.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 290, 6 July 1917, Page 1 (Supplement)

"JACK'S" PAY-DAY.

HIS MONEY DOES NOT GO EAR. It is rumoured that the authorities are contemplating an increase in tile rate of pay among the non-commis-sioned ranks of the Army. If this he so, it is only fair that the senior branch of the service should he considered as well, for, although the Navy is the better paid of the two services, "Jack Tar" has innumerable expenses' to contend with, and after all said and done 8s lOd a week does not go very far. As a rule, you will find "Jack" most flush of money at the beginning of the month, for he generally receives his pay on the first. In peace time a captain is bound to pay then or furnish a written reason why to the. Adminilty. But, of course, now that "Jack" is on active service, it is not an unknown experience for him to spend many months on lioard without getting any money during the whole time. Pay-day ceremony on hoard one of his Majesty's ships is extremely interesting. At about twelve o'clock the bo'sun blows his whistle and calls on the crew to'"lay aft'' for their pay. The men assemble on the main deck according to rank, seamen first, then marines, then boys, and the supernumeraries take up their position in the rear.

The most importint personage is, of course, the paymaster, who arrives with a large chest, in which there are some hundreds of divisions containing receptacles holding the men's money. As tho paymaster's clerk, known as the "writer," calls out the bluejacket's names, tlie men step forward one by one, giving their numbers, and sweep the money off the table into the crowns of their caps, where it remains until thev are sure it is correct.

Frequently a buejacket will advance, only to lie greeted with the words, "Not entitled." Doubtless you will consider this somewhat unjust, and probably Jack does himself at the time. The reason is that he has received his pay in the form of clothes, tobacco, etc. So much each month is deducted from " Jack's" pay for clothes and tobrcco. Thus, if your pay came to £'l l"s 6d., you would (Draw- £1 10s., and the remainder woidd lie kept. Should you, however, not want clothes that month, the. deduction would be returned to you at the end of the quarter. * Then there is also the canteen "score." There you can always have credit.' but accounts are "rendered" monthly. Your "shot," whatever length it may he, must be wiped out. because you can't leave the ship until it is paid. Some of the youngsters 1 regularly mortgage all their pay in buying jams, biscuits, i.m<l that sort of stuff, which, like all provisions in the Navy, is ruinously clear. Cheese, for example, that you could buy ashore for Is or Is (id per pound often costs in the canteen about Is per pound more.

The only thing that you get cheap in the Navy is tobacco, which is uniformly sold at Is per pound. It is that price at Gibraltar, where you can buy it ashore for 7d. But then this item doi' ; i not belong properly to the canteen, for tobacco money is deducted from your pay.