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The Dominion. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 17, 1917. AN ACT OF JUSTICE

This decision of the Government 'to granF special financial assistance to members of our Expeditionary Force in order to help them to fulfil certain civil obligations will, of course, meet with general appro 1 bation. The proposed grant is a. substantal one; but it should' not on that account be regarded as an exhibition of generosity on the,part of the State. It is nothing more than an act of justice, and the only surprising thing about it is tho fact that it has been so long delayed. No one can accuse the Government of acting with rashness or undue ; haste, or going in advance of public opinion. 'As 'a matter of fact the regulations approved by the Executive 'Gouno.il yesterday morning represent a rather tardy response to a persistent demand from all parts of the Dominion. The granting of assistance- up to £2 a week cannot be regarded as a niggardly measure. It should prove a real help to men who have entered into financial engagements of such a nature that enlistment would involve them in serious difficulties. The State will now provide them with a considerable amount of financial assistance in discharging their liabilities as: regards rent, interest, and instalments payable in respect of loans and mortgages, and of agreements regarding the purchase of dwellinghouses, business premises, furniture, and like obligations; also rates and taxes, insurance premiums, and cxpensos incurred in regard to_ the management of a man's business while he is serving his country at the front. Tho State has no right to send a man away to fight for it without bearing its fair share of any losses and inconveniences which may result from his absence from home. The brave men who are risking thoir lives in order to maintain the freedom and' protect the lives and \property of those who stay behind are entitled to generous treatment. Everything possible should be done to lessen thoir hard-1 ships and to relieve them from anxiety as to their financial obligations and tho position of those dependent on thorn. Tho people of New Zealand have made no complaints regarding tho amount of war taxation which has been levied upon them. They arc ready and willing to pay the full price of victory. The country is wonderfully prosperous, and is well able to find whatever money may bo required to enable New Zealand to do its full part in bringing the war to a victorious end. The country does not want to shirk its duty, to its soldiers or to carry out its obligations in any grudging spirit. Tho new regulations should undoubtedly strengthen tho hands of tho Appeal Boards in dealing with that very numerous class of cases in which men find it extremely difficult to join the colours owing to inability to make satisfactory provision for their financial responsibilities. Now that tho Boards can make recommendations to tho Minister as to the amount of assistance necessary to enable a man to go into camp without suffering undue hardship, many reasonable grievances will bo removed. It is to bo ho]jed that the regulations will be administered in a broad-minded, businesslike, and generous manner.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DOM19170117.2.8

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2979, 17 January 1917, Page 4

Word count
Tapeke kupu
534

The Dominion. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 17, 1917. AN ACT OF JUSTICE Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2979, 17 January 1917, Page 4

The Dominion. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 17, 1917. AN ACT OF JUSTICE Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2979, 17 January 1917, Page 4

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