CONCESSIONS TO SOLDIERS.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16266, 17 July 1918, Page 7

CONCESSIONS TO SOLDIERS.

MINISTER AND SECOND DIVISION LEAGUE. I (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) •WELLINGTON, July 16. Referring to the Second Division League's annual report, Sir James Allen said:—"My attention lias been drawn to a statement, being published apparently broadcast by the Second Division League in its first annual reof concessions and benefits which, iiave boen granted to soldiers and theudependants. The purpose of tho publication is evidently to give the impression to tho public that the whole '' theso concessions and benefits are solely due to the persistent agitation and pressure of the Second Division League. The method adopted by the League has been simple. The executive has taken the original conditions with respect to soldiers and their dependants, and compared them with those nbw in existence, and has assumed that the difference is entirely due to tho work of the League. This asI sumption altogether eliminates members of Parliament, individually and collectively; Ministers of the Crown, individually and collectively; the Returned Soldiers' Association, the .National Efficiency Board, the . administrative heads of the Defence Department and the large army of patnotio citizen® throughout tho Dominion who are continually suggesting improvements tor the benelt of our soldiers and their dependants. While I have no desire to discount the actual work that Ms been accomplished by. the League, I thinkj necessary to point.out that it has not a monopoly of initiative m these matters, nor a monopoty of goodwill towards our soldiers and their dependants." _