RETRENCHED SOLDIERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 July 1922, Page 6

RETRENCHED SOLDIERS.

HOW OTHER COUNTRIES TREAT THEM. The plight of officers and men retrenched by the Defence Department was mentioned by the Hon. G. J. Smith in the Legislative Council. In deploring the need for cutting down the Defence force, Mr. Smith said that many officers, including some who had been expressly trained at Duntroon, had been retrenched. In India, in reducing the Army, every officer with the rank of subaltern received a gratuity of £B5O, with captains rank £1250; in addition subalterns received £75 for every year of service, and captains £l5O. Such a proceeding was beyond the means of this country. It was interesting, however, to turn to Australia, and see what was being done there. One month’s pay for every complete year of service was given to officers, with a maximum of £200; n.c.o.’s and warrant officers were given six months’ pay, and privates three months’ pay at the current rate. When it was considered, that many of those retrenched had served abroad under service conditions, it was felt that something should be done for them. He would suggest that a bond or debenture redeemable in five or ten years should be given to each officer’ and man retrenched, to be paid at the end of the term with interest added.