THE SECOND DIVISION.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16141, 20 February 1918, Page 6

THE SECOND DIVISION.

GOVERNMENT'S INTENTIONS,

(tress ASSOCIATION- telegram.) WELLINGTON, February 10. Referring to a report that the Government did not intend to send married men to fight, Sir James Allen made a statement to-day.

''So long as the war continues," ho said, u the Government will continues to fulfil its obligation to send reinforcements, even if this should involve the calling up of the 15 and C men of the Second Division. It is my earnest wish that wo shall not havo to send even the A men out of the country, but 110 one can tell when tho war will end.

"I saw members of the Second Division in the South, and my conviction is that although they luive l-'tf responsibilities thev will ail go willingly when their time comes, knowing that they are fighting for their country and their own people."

QUESTION OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.

LEAGUE'S EMPHATIC PROTEST

(I'UESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.)

WELLINGTON, February 19. A general moating of' tho Second Division League to-night passed tho following resolution: — "That this meeting of members of the Second Division Leaguo emphatically protests against tho action of th? Financial Assistanco Board in rescinding grants of financial assistanco on the ground that the separation allowances have bean increased, aud calls upon tho Minister of Defence to take immediate stops to protect tho interests of our soldiers on service and their dependants by instructing tho Board to take no furtner action along these lines, and • by reinstating bucli grants as may already have beon cancelled."

It was also resolved: ''That this meeting of Second Division reservists strongly contends that the presont scalo of separation allowances is quite inadequate to securo the preservation of the homes of our soldiois, and urges upon the 'Government the necessity of reopening this matter immediately upon the reassembly of Parliament, with a view to increasing the allowances to wives and children, and making adequate provision for widowed mothers.''

Recently the Government announced that the maximum amount of assistance to bo granted to applicants by the Financial Assistance Board had been increased from £2 to £3. Cases that have come undor notice in Christchurch, however, indicate that tho policy of the Board is in the direction of reducing instead of increasing the assistance granted to recipients, for a number of these have in the past few days received notice that owing to tho increased separation allowances to wives and children of soldiers, the assistance granted by the Financial Assistance Board would bo reduced, and in some cases wiped out altogether.