SECOND DIVISION

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 194, 6 May 1918, Page 7

SECOND DIVISION

THE LEAGUE'S DEMANDS STATEMENT BY SIR JAMES ALLEN. • ' ' J A statement in reply to the demands <of the Second Division Lenguo for increased separation allowances was inado T>y Sir James Allen on Saturday. The Minister said:— "It seems to me that many people in criticising the existing separation allowances havo quite failed to appreciate the true position. It will bo agreed by all tthat the present duty of the State is to 3nake such.financial provision for the dependants of a soldier as to leave them in reasonable comfort and as near as practicable fn their civil standard of living iduring the soldier's ahsenco on military service. I think it will also bo agreed Iby all that the orasont allotment and allowances, plus financial assistance, are ample to provide for the necessities of ihe dependants while the soldier is serving witli the Expeditionary Force. In fact, hundreds of wives and children will be very much letter off financially, by reason of the soldier's military service than ever they were while he was employed, in civil Mfe. "You appear to have overlooked the important fact that the very demands of the. Second Division. League itself eoncedes that the financial provision for the necessities of the dependants while a soldier is on service is sufficient. I 110tico that tho president of the leaguo, iu his remarks at Gisborne, as published in ia Press Association telegram dated April 80, has now publicly admitted this. The tdomand of the Second '\i»isis>:i League that the wife's separation allowance should bo increased to B.' par diem is pot made for tho t.urpose- of increasing her spending power to a cot present necessities during her, husband's absence on service, but in order to enable the Government to wii.bh.old an allotment of 3s. per day of his nay against tho day of repatriation. If, therefore, tho Government agreed to-day to increase cue .wifo's separation allowance to (is. per diem on the condition which the Second Division League has definitely stipulated, and thus met the full -financial demand of tho Second Division League, the wife and children would not be a penny better off than they are now. "It will therefore be seen that the Second Division League by its very demands agrees that the provision made ifor the dependants while a soldier is on active service is sufficient to meet thoir reasonable requirements; "but its concorn is as to; the position in whioh the soldier as well as his dependants may find themselves on repatriation after the jvar. But is the method proposed by the Second Division League to nieot tho possible after-war condition of a soldiei and his dependants a true solution of the problem? I have no hesitation in saying. that it is neither fair, equitable, nor practicable. It proposes that the State should provide a 'nest egg' for 'every married soldier on repatriation, irrespective, of whether he is returning to iiu assured income cr employment in civil life. Why, for instance, should the State provide a 'nest egg' for its very largo army of public servants whose positions it is keeping open, and whose superannuation contributions it is meeting out of War Expenses Account? These instances could he multiplied indefinitely. "The problem of providing for those soldiers who' on repatriation are unablo at onco to find civil employment is admittedly a difficult one, and it is noiv receiving very earnest consideration. 1 am satisfied, however, that if is not to lie met by a grant to every married solidier of a lump sum consisting of deferred pay." STATEMENT BY MR. ARMSTRONG. By Telegrapu—Press Association. Christchurch, May 5. Referring to the Minister's statement, !Mr. B-. A. Armstrong, president of tne Second Division League, states that Sir James Allen has put his own tion on the remarks made by him (Mr. Armstrong) in Gisborne. . The league, said Mr. Armstrong, make's no admission of adequacy until a definite not minimum income of two guineas per week has been fixed for the wife only, and the Husband's return is provided for. 'It will lie time.for Ministers to decry the suggestions of the league thai they -have finally come to meet on so many points, .when the Government they represent has ■put forward somu concrete proposal for repatriation. This time of crisis requires a sympathetic and simple understanding of the wants of common people. 'It is because the Secon<i Division reservists realise they have a country worth fighting for that they expect the people, through their responsible Government, .to guarantee substantial justice to all soldiers and their dependants. ME. NOSWORTBX M.l\, SUPPORTS •LEAGUE'S DEMANDS. By Tclegraph.-Presß Association. Ashburton; May I.' Mr. Nosworthy, 11.]?., addressed a public meeting of members of tho Second Division last night. He promised to support the demands made for the wives, even if he had to voto for curtailments in other directions. Resolutions were carried unanimously deploring the seditious view expressed 'at the recent Christohurch meeting; insisting that tho allowances asked for by

the league be granted in their entirety j l that the principles oji which exemptions have been granted should bo reconsidered with a view to making physical fitness the solo test for active service, and that reservists be given three months' leave, if possible, bei'oro entering camp.