Service Pay
The reform of Service rates of pay announced in a White Paper issued on Wednesday has long been overdue ; and the changes, apart from the general increase in pay, which the Government proposes to introduce are those which the serviceman has long desired. Their main objects are to simplify the pay systems as much as possible, to reduce rates in the three Services to an approximate equality, and to establish rates of pay for the Services which compare reasonably well with civilian wages. On the Government's calculations, which servicemen, however, have learned to regard with a certain suspicion, men of all three Services will receive, at the level of the trained soldier or able seaman, a basic rate equiva- lent to £5 a week in civilian life. This in itself reflects the im- provement in the status of the serviceman in recent years ; there are also increases in allowances, pensions and gratuities, though marriage allowances according to the number of children are discontinued. The Government promises similar reforms in the system of pay for officers. One point deserves close attention Under the new system of pay, allowances are subject to tax. For the officer this will mean a very large loss under present conditions unless improvements in the basic rates of pay more than com- pensate for it. It is essential that the general" effect of these reforms should be to make the Services more attractive to men of high character and good education, and the-Increased attractions will have to be very considerable if in peace-time the Services are to continue to obtain officers of the calibre which they need and deserve.
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