SECOND DIVISION LEAGUE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 18, 16 October 1917, Page 6

SECOND DIVISION LEAGUE

BRANCH AT EASTBOURNE. A well-attended meeting was held in tlie Borougli Council Chambers, Eastbourne, last evening, when representatives of the central executive of the Second Division League placed the objects of the league before those present. Mr. A. Aislabie was elected to the chair. Mr. It. A. Armstrong, Dominion president, dealt with tho. progress made by the league, and pointed out the work that could be done by local committees in such centre. Mr. H. F. Toogood, vice-president, urged upon those present the necessity of all uniting to lceep the homes together. It had been suggested that members of the Second Division hud "cold feet," but the only sign of "cold feet" about, just now was that exhibited by those controlling the finance of tho country. The last man v;as now making ready to do his duty, but the man in charge of the last shilling wanted warming up. There was a great cry about conserving the financial position of the Dominion, hut the same cry had been raised about the old-age pensions, and who could eay that tho passing of this humanitarian measure had imperilled in any way the stability of the Dominion's finance? Mr.,CI. H. Chapman urged upon those who would not have to go to the war to "do their hit" by seeing that the dependants of soldiery did not suffer hardship or injustice. The people of this country had to be brought to realise that something more was wanted than the buying of a shilling surprise packet. They must see that the interests of their neighbours who were called up for tervico ixere protected in their absence. ... A number of questions were asked by members of the audience, many interesting points connected with service and financial assistance being raised. On the motion of- Messrs. Marquis and Atkinson, tho following resolution was carried unanimously"That this meeting of residents ,of Eastbourne fully endorses the proposals for separation allowances put forward by the Second Division League, and Virscs the Government to make adequate provision for the ■wives and children of our soldiers, apart from any allocation of deferred pay, and that a copy of this resolution be sent to the Prime Minister and the member for the district." On the motion of Messrs. Oilier and Donns, it was resolved: "That a branch of the Second Division League be formed at Eastbourne, and a committee set up to act as a local channel of advice and assistance to reservists and their dependants." ' ' The committee waa then set up as fol-lows-.—Messrs. E. T. Wise. F. J. Munro, C. Green, Davies, H. A. Baker, A. Aislabie. J. D. Avery, P. J. Shackleford, C. A. Marquis, P. Atkinson, J. Manning, C.' P. Day, and Oilier (hon. secretary). Votes of thanks to tho, central executive and tho chairman concluded tho meeting, NAPIER RESOLUTIONS. . , By Telegraph—Press Association. Napier, October 15. Tho Napier branch of tile Second Division League passed tho following resolutions to-night-.—That, in view of tho Government's attitude in dealing with the league's proposals for widows' pensions, it be a recommendation to the Dominion Federation that all leagues throughout the Dominion be formed with political organisations. That the Napier Second Division League empirically and, urgently protests against the reported statement of Sir James Allen to the effect that tho pension scheme for widows would have been more liberal had it been wise to malco it so, but. any pension scheme which did not encourage the recipient to go to work was not wiso but unsound.