ECOND DIVISION LEAG UE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3068, 2 May 1917, Page 8

ECOND DIVISION LEAG UE

PROVISION FOR MARRIED MEN. The committee of tho 'Wellington Second Division League, after a nieetipg last evening, announced that, while viewing with approval tho tightening of tho medical standard of fitness, as evidenced by tho increased proportion of five to one now being drawn in the ballot, it called the attention of Second Division reservists to tho possibility that at this ratio the I'irst Division must bo exhausted by September aiext. The league is of tho opinion that up to the present the authorities have not sufficiently considered tho problem of equality of sacrifice, and that, as the domestic life of a coiisiderablirseciSion of the community is on. tho o.ve of being subjected to a drastic disintegration, it now behoves the Government to completely review the question of separation allowances and pensions, so ,that those, who may be called on to make the great sacrifice of giving up husband and father shall not also be condemned to comparative penury and want. The committee holds that thoso who remain behind in their ordinary avocation, for whatever reason, should be called upon ■universally by legislation to make such financial sacrifices as will meet tho needs of tho dependants of those who are called upon to face the supremo sacrifice. As the proportion of military fit men has now been determined to be ono in five, the burden of necessary taxation would be divided among the remaining four-fifths of exempted eligibles, plus the large number of men over 'military age, etc.,- included in which latter class are the wealthiest members of the community. The league views with grave concern the indications of a policy of State parsimony as shown by the complaints of tho Returned Soldiers' Association, and in one particular instance by tho recent official-statement that granting .of one shilling a day, separation allow;aricoto widowed mothers who are already in receipt of tho old age pension of ten shillings por week "would t>o going too far, ,, ' and could not be allowed. '. "' The league considers that' tbo authorities; should do everything possible to remove, tho atmosphero of uncertainty, so destructive to industry and concentration, by adopting a definite scheme of classification without delay, and by providing for the medical examination of oach class or. sub-class well in advance of the ballot. The league further holds that if a man is passed by the examining Medical Board as physically fit for service the State should take full responsibility from the liioment of his entering camp, and that in the event of his death or disablement by disease or accident (when on leave included) he and his dependents shall be entitled to tho samo pensions and allowances as if the death (or disablement had occurred on active service: