THE SECOND DIVISION LEAGUE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 190, 1 May 1918, Page 4

THE SECOND DIVISION LEAGUE

The disgraceful disturbance in Christchurch on Monday last, following closely on the meeting of the previous evening at which the shameful if not seditious resolution was carried urging the Second Division men not to leave for camp until the demands of tho Second Division League arc conceded by the Government, goes to confirm the impression generally held that the affair had been organised by the extremists of tho anti-conscription clemeut in tho community. It is satisfactory to note that the Executive of tho Second Division League has taken an early _ opportunity to disclaim any association with the resolution passed at the Gihristchurch meeting, and that it condemns in strong terms tho views therein depressed. The Executive moreover has once more formally proclaimed its recognition of the responsibility of Second Division reservists "'not only to their dependants but to tho State and to the men who are so nobly fighting to-day." This is a very wise and a very proper step for the League to take, for it would bo idle to ignore the fact that its activities in seeking to uetisi- tlw financial position of Second Division reservists havo at times tended to create an unfavourable impression. As a matter of fact, the League has clone very good service in impressing on Ministers and Parliament tho need for adequate provision king made for "the dependants of Second Division men, and it can legitimately claim that its efforts have met with a marked measure of success. Tho provision for dependants of our soldiers today is not only the most liberal in the world, but it will place a substantial proportion of them in a better position financially than they would be in _ under normal conditions. Tho minimum pay for a private soldier with a> wife and no children is equal (estimating the cost of the soldier's own maintenance in food and clothing at £l ,1 week) to a wage of about £3 lGs a week. This is the minimum. Where there are children, 10s. 6d. a week is granted for each child, and in addition the Financial Assistance Board may grant up to an extra *3 a week for rent, interest, insurance premiums, etc. It is not necessary to go into all the details to show how liberal the present scale of allowances to dependants of Secnnd Division men really is, and we merely make reference to the matter now because the Second Division League can justly claim a large share of tho credit for assisting to j

bring about this satisfactory stale of tilings. .Hiil. it, is well In realise thai, there, is n, liinil. In which the. miinlry ciui safely commit, itself even in a mallov of Ihis kind. It is mm thing to enter iniii ;in obligation and <"|iiife another thing Ut meet it. We. have been exceptionally fortunate in tho past throe, years in the. shipment of o\ir produce and in tin; prices we have obtained for it. As a consequence the country lias been prosporous, and the heavy scale of war taxation imposed by the. Government lias produced a huge, revenue, and large surpluses have boon siiown. The impression has been created that with its largo surpluses the Government could afford still more lavish expenditure. Such is a very shortsighted and dangerous view. AVe arc entirely dependent for our prosperity and bur State revenue on the shipping which brings us the goods we require and which carries our produce overseas. Who can pretend to say what the coming year will bring forth in the shipping situation? . And all tho time our expenditure is piling up. Our loans, out of which our soldiers and their dependants are paid, will necessarily _ become increasingly difficult to raise as time goes on. These facts have to be taken into account when considering our commitments for the future. Overshadowing all is the uncertainty as to the duration of the war—how long we may bo called on to shoulder the already heavy and rapidly mounting financial burden. The. commitments already made involve a financial responsibility to which tho Finance Minister has more than once deemed it necessary to direct serious attention. It is now time that the country fully recognised that the natural desire to do all that is possible for' the dependants of our soldiers cannot safety exceed the liberal provision already made in regard to all matters of primary importance.