Financial Assistance to Soldiers.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16143, 22 February 1918, Page 6

Financial Assistance to Soldiers.

"Wo print to-day some account of the meeting of the Wellington Second Division League, at which complaint was mado of tho manner in which' the Financial Assistance Board is doing its work. A largo number of cases were cited, detailed particulars being given, with the object of showing that the Board is aiming at paying out as little as possible. These cases appear to establish a prima facie case against the Board, and we are sure the public will not bo satisfied with the position until it is made quite clear that the Board—which, of course, acts under instructions from the Government, or the Minister of [Defence, upon whom there are no statutory restrictions —is carrying out its duties in the spirit in which everyone was led to believe they would be carried out. When a deputation waited "upon him yesterday. Sir James Allen suggested that the Board had made at least one mistake, and he promised to gr. into the matter. It cannot, we think, bo charged that tho League's purpose is other than what it purports to be. Tho president of tho League was obviously sincere when he said that tho Second Division men are not worrying over having to serve, but were anxious only that proper provision should bo made for their dependents. Wo hops, therefore, that the Minister will welcome tho League's assistance in repelling the idea that tho Second Division men are not meant to serve, and we do not doubt that he will meet the complaints, which are mado in a Icair spirit, in a spirit equally fair. From the very beginning Sir James Allen and his colleagues declared that the scheme of financial assistance was genuine, and was meant to be generous. In the Houso of Representatives on September 26th ?ast, for example, Sir James Allen, after announcing that the Board would bo empowered to grant assistance up to £3 a week, added: "I wish to " inform honourable that the " work of, tho Financial Assistance " Board is carried on very actively ; and "I believe they havo interpreted tho "regulations very generously, and that '• material benefit has accrued to many, " who have been relieved of responsibiiii " ties which otherwise would have "caused theui considerable anxiety." Ho proceeded to quote a mass of figures to show that soldiers could receive altogether tho equivalent of sums ranging from £247 to £384 in the year—or, allowing £1 a week as saved through

the State feeding and clothing the man, from £o 15s to £S 4s a week. Those figures took most peopled breath away. They induced Parliament to stand firm in the Government's defence of the scale of allowances decided upon. They created the impression that the Board was goiug to give genuine and generous essistancc. Now it is suggested—and specific cases are cited in support, together with a circular which shows that the rescinding of all grants, on the actual ground that the allowances have been increased, is a part of the Beard's policy—that the Minister's figures were too encouraging. We are sure we can rely upon Sir James Allen to sec that, if the Board's performance is so different from the promise, some amendment shall be made. Ho repeated yesterday bis assurance that he wishes to give all the help possible where it is needed. It i:, not as if the national finances have taken a turn that necessitates a change of policy. On October 10th last, Sir Joseph "Ward urged the need for financial prudence as a reason against acceding to the original demand ol the Second Division, and he asked the House to wait a whiie. He said that in six months tho Government would bo in a much better position to say Low far they could go. He had previously said, on September 28th, that even if wo had "a glorious year," tho surplus or April Ist, 1913, could not bo more than 1} or 2 millions sterling, and it was on that basis of expectation that tho scale of allowances and pensions was drawn up. The surplus will, of course, be nearer 5 millions than li millions, and while this fact does not in the least justify any departure from prudence, it does tell strongly against any harsh and inconsiderate treatment of claims by married reservists for financial assistance.