STATEMENT BY LEAGUE'S PRESIDENT

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 190, 1 May 1918, Page 6

STATEMENT BY LEAGUE'S PRESIDENT

IEAGVE NOT RESPONSIBLE TOR RIOTOUS BEHAVTOUTt. By Telegraph—Press Association. Gisborne, April 30. Mr R. A. Armstrong, national president of tho Federated Second Division Len"iies who is on a visit to Gisborne, interviewed, regarding the denioiist-n-----(ioiw at Christchurch, said tlio Press messu'es were the only information he h. l( f lo'go upon, rt was necessary lo make it quite olear to the people ol New Zealand Hint the league must not lie held in any way responsible for the reported riotous behaviour. hat Imp,enhi", however, ho said, could not be udged us anything other than tlio outi ol a genuine eutbmst ot .public wlin* Tho history ol the civilised workf show«l that a public demonstration of more or !<?» severe character ni"ablv came with the exhaustion o mil impatience following on failures ol V people's Puvlimnc.it to secure jusice l It was also necessary to realise tint Iho demonstration was not against to principle of service, but against ;,l wero regarded as unjust condition* otirvice. , A recent meeting at Chr.stciurel at which a slroi.gly-wordcd ro«Xlion vas carried, was apparenty »n to tho public. Aiiieetniß.wflshela 2r tho auspices of the Cliristel.ureU "'',, ie Without going into the men s if tho case, it was necessary to state t| ni ~.., resolution carried at such a

I (liroiijfh their wn-diled representatives lit a Do:iiiiiicm conference. Mr. Armstrong concluded by Baying llnil; (.ho aiDiuiiiii'i'iiu'iil. of ti further increase »f separation allowances for-chil-, (Iron ami bolter awi'liO'diis for ivicloir'vj' mothers wns anoth.'r milostoiio on the league's road to adequate conditions of service. It 'low remained for Hit; Government to romovo from llic wife's shoulilcrs tho all-too-heavy burden of providing for the husbind's icttirii. This couiii bo done by increasing the wife's allowance to lis. per day, and holding the whole of {lie soldier's deterred pay until his return. HOTLY TO MB. ISITT. By Telcsraph.-l'rosß Association. Christchurch, April 29. Mr. Yates, secretory of the Christchurch Second Division League, lias replied to Mr. 1. Jl. Isitt, Ml 1 , stilling that Hie motion as moved ■by tne league's official at Sunday's meeting was defeated .because the public, taking control of the mi-otiiisr, pass;d a resolution to meet their wishes. The executive ot the league hud no connection with the meeting held on Saturday night at lb; Foresters' Hall." AUCKLAND LEAGUE'S ATTITUDE. Auckland, April 30. The Auckland Second Division League executive passed a resolution to the effect that it declined to accept as final the increased separation allowances an liounced by the Minister of Defeiice,.atid reiterating the demand for (is. a day a:> tho allowance for wives of soldiers, deferred pav to lie held liy fuo GoKtmawv ! until the'soldier's discharge. The execuI live also passed a resolution that the I league considered !lmt th-i principles on ! whfch exemption had been granted should I-be reconsidered with a view Io making : physical fitness the. sole test for active . i service, also it was essential that trie ! Government adhere to its promise to give reservists three months' notice before entering camp. MASS MEETINGOF WOMEN „• paucicalTrocebbings. I Christchurch, April 30. I A mass meeting ot women, called to i protest against tho Govt-rnment s refusal i to increase the allowance io the wives ot ; Second Division nlcn was held in the- ■: Choral Hail to-night. There was a ; moderate attendance. In the tarty ; fetuses of the meeting tho proceedings took ! a lively tone. ! Dr. Thacker moved that the meeting i should form a Soldier Dependants ; League. . ■ . , i Mrs E. D. Martin immediately rose, i and moved that a petition should be cirI euiated calling on the members of J?ar- ! liaincnt to resign and go to the country for a general election. In response to a query from the chairman ns to whether sho were seconding Dr Thacker's resolution, the speaker declared that tho meeting was a woman s meeting' and that men were not entitled to speak at it. . Several men hero attempted to speak, but were cried down, and Mrs. Martins resolution was carried. Dr. Thacker: That only strengthens my resolution. A lady member of the audiencb then assured Dr. Thacker that women could run their own affairs, and, atiei some consultation with tho chairman, Dr. Thacker withdrew his motion. Upon the chairman oalling for questions, half of the audience rose (o speak, mid some very divergent views, few of them bearing upon the original object ot tho meeting, were expressed. A man said: "I propose that this meeting of Christchurch women demand a referendum before taking our husbands from ns! (Uproarious laughter.) The resolution was seconded and carAnother man said: "I move that Mrs. Martin take the chair." After some discussion, Mrs. Martin look the chair, and a collection was taken up. A Dunedin visitor, a conscientious objector, then addressed the meeting. ! After considerable delay a committee I was elected to deal with the resolutions | carried. j ALLEGED SEDTTION. • Question has been raised »s to whether I tho resolution passed at the -meeting of ithe Second Division League in Christi church on Sunday night is seditious, i within the meaning of the AYor Hegulai tions. The matter has been riferred to ! the Attorney-General, who in the ordi- '. nary course will' probably take the j opinion of the .Solicitor-General upon it.