THE SECOND DIVISION

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3185, 8 September 1917, Page 6

THE SECOND DIVISION

The delay which has taken place inintrodueing the Bill to amend tho Ijmv relating to the pensions and allowances of members of the military forces and their dependants would seem to suggest that Cabinet is not finding the task of revision a simple one. The measure is one of such importance that it may be hoped that it will be circulated in ample time to allow of the fullest examination and if necessary the freest criticism. The Government has got into the very bad habit of bringing down important Bills and treating them as matters of urgency, with the result that their provisions are not always fully understood and sometimes pass on to the Statute Book in a form which subsequently gives rise to complaints and grievances. The Minister, of Defence and the Government should not lose sight of the fact that in amending the War Pensions Act they have a strong public sentiment behind them in favour of placing the 'members of the military forces and their dependant* on a far more satisfactory footing than is at present tho case. The families of those members of the Second Division who are called on to serve with the forces abroad must he provided for on a just and liberal scale. If such provision necessitates a curtailment of the huge surpluses we are accumulating the money will be well spent. The future must be provided against as far as possible, but it is still more, important that the families, of fcho«e who go out to fight our battles should have no occasion to fear for their present -means of living. The Bill is being anxiously awaited by a. very lame section of the peoulo of the Dominion, and ifc may be hoped that Sir .Tajiks .Allen will endeavour to circulate it at tho earliest possible moment. ■