MILITARY PAY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 December 1939, Page 7

MILITARY PAY

I INCREASES AGREED TO IN AUSTRALIA FEDERAL CRISIS AVERTED. | COUNTRY PARTY APPROVES j NEW RATES. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. CANBERRA. December 5. The threatened Federal political crisis over the rates of pay for soldiers was averted today when ’ thePrime Minister, Mr Menzies, announced in the House of Representatives rises in military pay wmeh met with the approval of the Country Party. Mr Menzies intimated that the militia would receive 8s a day till their camp training ended, when they would go into the reserve and make way for compulsory trainees at 5s a day. He added that the second A.I.F. would be paid 7s a day on embarkation (a rise ol Is a day), but 2s of Ulis would be. deferred till their return to civil life. The Labour Party immediately moved an amendment designed to give both the militia and the A.I.F. 8s a day. The Labour leader. Mr Curtin, described the Prime Minister’s statement as a grudging submission made in political interests. The agreement I revealed that it had become politically necessary for the United Australia and Country Parties to patch up their differences or be annihilated. The Canberra correspondent of the "Sydney Morning Herald" last week stated that the stability of the Federal Government was threatened as a result of a crisis which had developed over the rates of pay of the militaiy forces. After the Government had been threatened with summary defeat by a combined Labour-Country vote, threatening a premature election, the issue was held over till this week. The Opposition demanded "nothing less than the basic wage for soldiers." The Country Party leader. Sir Earle Page, urged the adoption of New Zealand rates for soldiers and their dependants. MILITIA TO RESERVE INTRODUCTION OF NEW SCHEME. (Received This Day, 9.10 a.m.) CANBERRA. This Day. Following upon a decision by the Federal Government to retire all members of the militia to the reserve at the end of the financial year, the Government will introduce a complete scheme of compulsory military training in Australia. The 'strength of the Army is likely to be not less than 50,000. The age groups will be either 18 to 19 or 22 to 23. additional to those 21 years of age who have already been called up, at the beginning of next year.