SECOND DIVISION LEAGUE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 202, 15 May 1918, Page 6

SECOND DIVISION LEAGUE

WELLINGTON BRANCH

SMIUTIBN ALLOWANCES AND

HUMS

POLITICAL ACTION THREATENED

Separation allowances and line die ex<>i)llit ioiiM ivero among yia inattere connnliwl at a mooting of members of tho horniul Division League, hold in the 41 amiiiii: Hall last evening. Mr. Armstrong, president of tlio National Exeoutive of I III) Iwikiio, was in the chair, and about i!Ol) members wfcro present. The meeting hnd been culled for the consideration of remits prepared by the exeoutive for the National Conference that is to meet in Wellington this month.

Tho chairman, in opening; :ho meeting said that tho business mußt 1m confined strictly within the objects r.ud constitution of tho league, as approved at other meetings. Tho policy of tho leaguo with regard to the Military Service Act had r.ot altered in any way. Tho leaguo had set out as a 'oyal organisation to support the Government in carrying out the provisions of tho Act, but it reserved lo itself tho right to demand that tho Government should do justice to the wives and children .of the Second Division men before asking those men to leave tho country. "Wo havo worked strictly along -..onstitutional lines," said the chairman," and it is due entirely to the efforts tf the leaguo that the country is accepting so peacefully and so readily at the present time the prospect of the married men being callcd up for sorvice. If the league had not looked ahead ami demanded necessary improvements in the conditions there can lie no doubt whatever that, instead of there being merely a litllo sectional disturbance in' tho South Island, tho whole country would havo been ablaze, because no 'elf-respecting married men would have ueon prepared to bo herded into camp under tho old conditions. Our efforts havo resulted in tho imprDvcmont of conditions to such an oxtcnt that whilo at tho present lime they aro not perfect, and whilo wo still liopo for •'iirther improvements, a man can go Into camp now with sonio l'eoling of security and 6afety that his dependants will lie properly provided for." Ho added that it was impossiblo for the league ;o d'scuss its demands without raising :ho question of conscription. There ivas no doubt tihat British people in the past had abhorred tho idea ot conscription. But tlie prosent war had uusot many ')ld principles. The Allies had been forced to fight with tho weapons that the enemy used. British armies had lo fight as tho Germans fought, and tho adoption of .conscription had been necessary in order that the power of Britain might bo developed as fully as that of Germany. Tho principle of conscription had' to bo accepted in order that victory might bo achioved. The Second Division men wore ready to do their duty. Thoir efforts had been directed to securing justice, and' had benefited every soldier. The separation allowance had been raised from Is. a day for a wife and 9d. a day for a child to 3s. and Is. fid. respectively: Tho pension scale had been-'similarly raised. Tho executive of the leaguo had worked very hard to achieve so much. But tho future had still to bo cousidercd. Tho leaguo wanted tho Government to carry tho principles of justice still further'.- At n previous meeting ho had quoted cases of unjust treatment of soldiers by the Financial Assistance Board. Ho was glad to be able to repoit .that those cases had all been reviewed. Similar cases had been reviewed, and tho position very much improved. The grievance of the homo service men had not been remedied. Over six months had elapsed since the Minister of Defenco promised that the dependants of theso men would get the full rate of separation allowance, but tlia necessary chango was still delayod. The league instrumental in getting full rates' of separation allowance for men aboard tho . Remits Considered. The first remits wero as follow:— That tho Wellington' Second Division Leaguo maintains the original platform ol the federated leagues that tho separation allowance lor the wifo of a soldier shall be 6s. per day, j and that tho responsibility of maK-. ! ii)g adequate provision for the mar- j ried soldier's return.be mot by the I State increasing the wife's separation ! allowance as suggested, and holding the soldier's deferred pay nntil his discharge. That all sine die oxemptions bo immediately reviewed by boards to bo specially set up for the purpose, and that in futuro physical fitness bo the only faotor to determine whether or not men shall serve in the military forces, cxccpt in the cases of men engaged in essential national work. In answer to questions, Mr. Armstrong said it was. a condition of financial assistance that the soldier should allot 3s. 6d. a day to bis wife. The definition of "essential national" service would depend upon tho authorities. The Government unfortunately had not proceeded to arrange national service. But a certain case in Auckland had clearly been one of wrongful exemption. No man should be exempted because of his possessions or financial obligations. The first remit was adopted. Question of Exemptions. Mr. Evans proposed that the second remit should be altered to provide against the exemption of any fit.men at all. Ho knew of a dairy fanner who had secured exemption as an "essential worker," sold his farm, and gone shooting deer. Ho moved to strike out the words aftor "military forces." After several speakers had approved of this proposal, Mr. J. E. Fitzgerald said tho league should proceed carefully. If the military service boards were not doing their duty properiy they should be changed. The boards represented tho people. Members: No, no. What about the Mnrist Brothers? j Mr. Fitzgerald said the league was dealing with the broad principles of exemption. (Hear, hoar.) The amendment was of a dangerous character and was not calculated to further the interests of the league. The league was Inking upon itself powers that it should not arrogato to itself. Members: Why not? 3lr. Evans said the aniendmont was not dangerous. It represented the opinions of 1)9 per cont. of the people, lie himself was at present in an industry classed as essential. Mr. Fitzgerald had completely changed his ground since voting that no City Council employees should be exempted.' Mr. Fitzjernld said he was one of those who had ,;ivon notice to rescind tho council's motion, 'lhere were men in the country who were essential to the welfare of the Dominion and of the men at tho front. The amendment was treading on most dangerous ground. A member: What is the ago of tho gentleman who lias been speaking? Some Workers Essential. Mr. Croskory said there was no doubt that some industries were, absolutely essential. If men were (alien from these industries there must bo conscription of labour in order to fill tin; vacant places. There was ho doubt about that. He agreed that some men wore iiiding in essontial industries, and he recognised that liio Government mid failed to tnki. steps Lo train unlit men lo work in e.-weiitia! industries. Sine die exemptions should be reduced to an absolute minimum. Bui essential industries must be maintained. If not, what would happen to the allowances of the wives and children of (lie soldiers? (Applause.) 'Die league must not stand for tho crinplinx ol the liouiinion's industries Another member •■aid Hint if workers in essential industries <..cc no more lit than other workers, tlr- iimjirii.v of Ihoin would prove unlit, and wouid Is left in tho country. The amendment would not wreck essential industries '?he case of store hands in the railway service was mentioned by a nii/nber, who. said that these men were exempted without tho least liocessity. Store hands could be replaced at any time. The

Railway Department only engaged them by the week. Other workers, suoli as engine drivers and telegraphists, were essential, since they could rot to replaced without years of training. Tho complete prohibition of exemptions would bo far 100 drastic.

"No man is indispensable," said the next speaker. "If any; man is considered indispensable it, is time an understudy was found for him."

"Can you tell tho meeting what will happen to the country if these essential men die?" asked another member. "They don't seem to be essential when a strike is oil."

Tho amendment, proposing to abolish all exemptions, was carried by a large majority on a show of hands.

"Stultifying the League,"

Mr. Fitzgerald protested that the decision of the meeting was stultifying the league, and would not reileQt credit upon it. The league would gain nothing by threatening tho Government with _.a bludgeon. Mr. Armstrong said the executive considered it was impracticable to nbolish all exemptions. If tho meeting decided otherwise he would try to represent its "iews for the futuro.

Mr. Evans said the people wore sick and tired of exemptions. The. proposal to abolish exemptions represented tho opinion of men who were going to tho front, not those who were staying behind. After further discussion the remit was finally adopted in the following form:— That all sdno (lie exemptions bo immediately reviewed by boards to bo specially set up for this purpose, and that in future physical fitness be the only faotor to determine whether or not men shall serve in the military forces, except in the cases of men. permanently employed in essential national work. Other Remits. "That the league renews its original request that the ago limit for children's benefits shall be: Males, 18; females, 21." "That the league renews its original request that allocated pay and allowances shall not be! affected by tho misconduct of tho soldier."

"That the league renews its request that 110 person ol military aga bo permitted to enter New Zealand! to take up tho positions of Ne\y Zealanders called .up for service."

"That the Government be requested to instituto thorough inquiries into the present condition of the various patriotic funds, with a view to the State taking over complete control of same."

"That conference bo recommondod to set up a special committee to exumino tlia problem of repatriation."

"That Government be asked to direct the Financial Assistance Board to adopt as a principlo the establishment of a minimum net income for the 'wife only" of cE2 2s. per week (children's allowance extra), clear of reourring obligations covered by tho Financial Assistance Regulations'."

"That in order to avoid unnecessary commoroial and industrial disorganisation and domestic hardship, tho system of three cloar months' notice between dates of medical examination and entry into camp bo firmly adhered to."

"That in cases whero an old life insurance policy is in existence for a less amount than ,£3OO, the reservist shall have the right to increase his insurance to .£3OO, and premium and war risk thereon shall be paid by the Financial Assistance Board in eases whero a grant of financial assistance is justified." . Some Points Discussed, Mr. Armstrong said that up to the present, as far as the lengua had gathered, tho Government had not grappled with the problem of repatriation except by establishing a more or less unsuccessful laud lietiieinsut system. The clnurniu,n ixpiumed that a member of tho Financial -Assistance Board, giving evidence before tho Defence Expenditure Commission, iiad 6aid the board aimed at giving iho wifo JC9O a year for her own keep. This aura was to be clear after payment of rent etc. The executive felt that the not income for the wife should 1)6 .£2 2e. a weok. This point was discussed in 6omo detail. Tne chairman said a membe.r oi the league had told him the Financial Assistance Board admitted it aimed only at providing a bare living for t.he wife. Tho board did not niako it possible for the wife to save anything. The remits were all adopted.

Political Action. Mr. Croskery asked what view the league intended to 'adopt if the Government refused to increase the allowances to the amounts that had been fixed by the league ns an irreduciblo minimum. The league wns non-party, but it had a political function, and it should decide what it intended to do. Mr. Armstrong said members should give their support to the conference that ! was shortly to meet in Wellington. If j the members reposed confidence in their j executive he thought that the results ! desired would be nchieved. The league j could not take political action at present ander its constitution, but there was no reason why the constitution should not be amended if necessary. Mr. Croskery said that matter had been considered at other conferences, i'he league should demand a genera, election if its demands were, not acceded to. It could devise means of raising by taxation the money iequired to provide fully for the wives and children. He moved that it should be an instruc- : tion to the delegates to support the view that if the Government failed to provide the rates demanded by the league as an irreducible minimum, steps should be taken to secure immediately a general election. The chairman said that under the constitution of the league he must refuse to nceept this motion. He was quite in accord with other speakers in regard to the league pressing its demands "to the utmost limit." But until the institution was ait. red in the proper way the motion could not be accepted. If the conference did not manage to move the Govanment, it vould be the . duty of the delegates to report to the mem.bers of the league. Then the matter could bo considered again. Mr. Evans said the executive had missed a golden opportunity when Parliament wns sitting. He gave notice of his intention to ask for a special meeting under the rules to amend the constitution. / Pledge of Unity. Mr. C. H. Chapman moved: "Thnt this meeting of members of the Seconel Division League pledges its full and active support to whatever measures ma}' lie found advisable by the approaching : Dominion Conference to secure by con- | stitutional means the safeguarding ot soldiers' homes and adequate living conditions for all dependants. He said tlmt the league had achieved a larffe measure of succetss alreadylf the Second Division men weie united they would be able to move the Government. The motion was cnrricel. ! In dosing the meeting Mr. Armstrong ! mentioned that , the annual meeting ol the "Wellington Branch wns appionchin,,, and would provide an opportunity tor i the discussion of «n.V matters membeia wished to bring forward. AT I'ALMEKBy Telegraph—Press Association. Palmerston North, May 14. A. largely-attended meeting of the Second Division League. l»^ d J' jeao- l ": tion: "That this meeting loya ly and steadfastly determines to assist the Government to bring tlio war to -a victoiious ending, and we aim to piooure, if po sible. by constitutional methods the conservation of the welfare ot ail sole here and secure adequate allowances tor tneir (lL ]ln'answer to a question, the chairman said that in many cases in which applic. - lions to the Financial Assistance Board for assistance towards paying lire and lie insurance! premiums had been "tinea down furthev representations bj tie Central Executive had been successtu , wholly or in part, 111 securing icconsidera'tion ol' the claims made. The following resolution was also passed: "This meeting urgently requests tin. Government lo remit the sentcncoa ot ILiiulcr, T.angley, and Hood at CliristI'iiiiiv!!, uii tin.* grutuu! they are unduly" severe and as such calculated to produce a feeling of resentment and lessen public faith in the fairness ot tlio authorities."