Soldiers, Their Pay and Prospects.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 476, 31 May 1890, Page 6

Soldiers, Their Pay and Prospects.

The question of increasing the soldier’s pay must (remarks the ‘ Standard ’) sooner or later be faced. While every other trade and calling in the country is more highly remunerated than formerly, the soldier's pecuniary position has suffered no ameliors ation. Obviously such a state of thingcannot go on for ever. As it is, the country gets chiefly the leavings of the unskilled labour market, and when the outside demand is high the field is so narrowed as to afford recruiting officers little or no choice.

The ‘Times,’ discussing the year’s recruiting returns, says :—The Army has been nearly, but only nearly, kept up to its strength during 18S9. To do this has been a struggle with the good times. General Rocke tells us that during the present year some 34,500 recruits will be required, or 5,000 more than we were just able to attract to the colours in 1889. How are we to get them ? Not certainly by increased pay, for, unfortunately, in many cases increased pay means little more than increased drink. General Rocke himself dwells upon the expediency of providing civil employment for the soldier passing to the Reserve after seven years’ service who unskilled in any trade or pursuit has,, but a precarious prospect before him. He men lions, apparently with approval, another enlightened suggestion. Desertions take place chiefly among young soldiers, two-thirds being in the first year and one-third in the first three months of their military career. Many of these youthful deliquents return, are tried for their offence, and, in addition to a term of imprisonment, are placed under stoppages. The result is that the young soldier in his second essay at military life finds himself for several months with the magnificent sum of a penny a day upon which to luxuriate. It is suggested that a remission of these oppressive stoppages might be made with but little loss to the State and a less likelihood of the man’s again deserting and causing an expenditure in the way of his apprehension, trial, and imprisonment, compared with which the loss incurred in providing him with a new kit would be but small. The suggestion is certainly in the right direction, that of making a man as far as possible contented.