THE SECOND DIVISION

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 193, 4 May 1918, Page 2

THE SECOND DIVISION

AUCKLAND REPRESENTATIONS A MINISTER ON EXEMPTIONS The executive of tlio Auckland branch of Uie Second Division League waited on thu Hon. T. U. AVilford, Minister of Marine and Justice, to place before him somo of tlio arguments of the league for moro gonorous treatment by tho Government to dependants. Jlr. A. A. Creamer, president of the Auckland Executive of tho league, urged on tho Minister that as married men they recognised their 'duty to'their country, but in the breaking up of homes the Government and country should recognise the Giierinco being made. They appreciated the Uovcrnmcut's action iu granting thuir request respecting the allowance for children, but they felt that they were justified in deep disappointI ment by being informed'that the allowI anco fur a wifo was not to be increased, i Another matter was tho method of exI emption. There was a . burning sense of disaffection at the manner in which i exemptions were granted by the military 'i service boards in many instances. ■ Mr. Wilford: Wo cannot interfere ; with the military service boards. The ■ Cabinet cannot dictate lo tho members j of those boards, nor dictate their judg- ! incuts, Directly you started Cabinet in. : terference with tho military , service ! boards you would break down the whole 'show, by at once opening the door to : suggestions that Cabinet was using Kβ ' influence to- keep men out, which- woulQ ; mean breaking down the whole system. "I for one will liover -admit the right of , a Cabiret Minister to interfere with # the ' military service board?/' The Minister •frankly durit'ed that Ministers werq : often siu'Pi'fcedjivhen hearing of some ot 1 tho men who hau got off, but ho pointed ; out that' it was a most difficult thing ; to say who should and who should not i be exempt without hearing all tho cirj cumstances, 'No man should, in short, take upon liimself to say of another man: "Why is he not at the front?" . . Mr. Creamer agreed that it was dilfiI cult for tho man in the street to judge, but he urged that many eases of exemption occurred which (ended to disturb public- confidence in the system, i- Tho speaker also urged the Minister to do his utmost'to prevail upon Cabinet to keep tho promise made that Second Division reservists should have three clear months iu which to settle their affairs after ■ medical examination. The Minister, in his reply, said he had no need to be told of tho loyalty of second Division men. Ho knew it, He also assured them that the National Government had had lo call up tho Second Division with the utmost-regret But belter to break up homes than that ■Germany should.win.- (Hear, hear.) As to the exemptions, he nntl been greatly impressed by their arguments, and ho would consider it his duty to go ■to Cabinet and put before it their arguments in favour of a review of tho principles of exemption. (Hear, hear.) Jn rcard to tho question of allowances, interwoven with it came tho question of tho country's ability to meet the call on behalf of the Second Division men. He pointed out that the league's demands relative to the allowance for children had been met, aud as lo the rest he did not believe the whole story had been jelcraplied from Wellington so far as the published report went, breaking personally, lm believed that the rate to be paid by way of allowance should not be dependent on -the Financial Assistance Board, but should be the principal rate that overybody know they could get without being dependent on tho Financial Assistance Board. JIo behoml, in other words, in a flat rate. The Financial Assistance Board had , done excellent work, but as one member of tho Cabiuot ho. would rather f.eo a definite rate fixed for women with 'ano child, two, three, or, .more children, without having 10-uc-poml oin representation to tho board, bo far as tho three months' period was concerned, he assured the deputation that up to last Friday at all events there liad been no snirßestiou whatever that the liromisn inii.de by the Government would not be, strictly kept.