SECOND DIVISION LEAGUE
1 MEETING OV FMTHJSRSTON BEANOH. TheFeathorston branch of the Second Division League mot on Friday night to discuss tho correspondence horn the Central Executive (Wellington). The correspondence included copies of replies received from the Minister of Defence in regard to various matters of deep concern to reservists and soldiers generally, also copies of typical cases handled by tho Financial Assistance Board, covering tho claims of men on active service and those attached to the home service branch. Mr. B. E. O'Neale, a well-known farmer and a director of tho Featherston Dairy Company, presided. After fully discussing the 16 cases submitted for review, and tho reports as to the recent meeting of the Wellington League, as well as the deputation to the Minister, the following comprehensive resolution, moved by the secretary (Mr. A. C. Holms) and seconded by Mr. E. It. Sinclair, was carried unanimously:—"That this meeting of Second Divisionists records its emphatic protest against the evident inadequacy of the grants being made in nfany instances, and the apparent inconsistency of the Financial Assistance Board as to the treatment of applications: also urges that all grants be made in accordance with scheduled conditions, and as far as pre-war liabilities are concerned, by right, irrespective of income; further, contends that the board is not justified in demanding that applicants increase their allotment from 3s. to 3s. 6d. per day to the consequent advantage of tho board; asserts that the dependants of those on home service should, as previous to the increase, receive tho same allowances as fixed for the Expeditionary Forces: reaffirms its conviction that the allowances should be substantially increased to enable the dependants of soldiers to enjoy the average standard of living—this independent of the pay of a soldier and extra financial assistance; and urges that the receipt cf an old-age pension shall not operate against widowed mothers."
The mover explained that there could be little doubt that the.discre-. tionary powers of the Financial Board were not being exercised in a liberal or consistent manner. He was certain that a great number of people would not trouble to claim' the benefits to which they were entitled, whilst others —and he knew_ cf some—would grow weary of pushing their claims. It would mean a heavy liability—but by no means one the country could not afford —to grant assistance up to the limit of £3 per week. _ In reply to a quostioner, the secretary advised that the league had made every, effort to havevdependants protected from tho stoppage of allotment in the caso of a soldier who is under punishment for misconduct. He could not at the moment say whether allowances were also stopped.
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Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 136, 26 February 1918, Page 3
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445SECOND DIVISION LEAGUE Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 136, 26 February 1918, Page 3
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