FORFEITED PAY.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 June 1917, Page 3

FORFEITED PAY.

DEPENDENTS PENALISED. respect to the forfeiture of soldiers' pay, the following instructions have been issued for the guidance of somraanding officers abroad:— (1) Net rato of pay is forfeited whilst, undergoing detention or field punishment. (2) Grass rate of pay is forfeited (a) when awarded by commanding officer; (b) when awarded by court-mar-tial; (c) under Royal Warrant for absence without leave. The point of general interest about these orders is that they show how a soldier, by misconduct 01 breach of military regulations in England or France, may bring about a stoppage of the allotment he had made to liis family in New Zealand. But (says the Dominion) members of the War Relief Association are strongly of opinion that the regulations should be amended to provide for the continuance of allotments under all conditions. The wives and children in New Zealand are in no way responsible for tiie offences against military law of husbands in the war area. The statement applies also to mothers and other dependents in whoso fav(\r allotments have been made. "Surely they can punish the soldier without punishing his dependents," said a member of the Association in Wellington. "New Zealand has. made a contract with these wives whose husbands have gone to the front." They should receive their allotments as a matter of right."