SECOND DIVISION

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 209, 23 May 1918, Page 7

SECOND DIVISION

DOMINION CONFERENCE DELEGATES MEET IN WELLINGTON SEPARATION ALLOWANCES DISCUSSED f The third Dominion Conforenoo of Second Division Leagues was opened in (Wellington yesterday in .the Masonic Hall, ißoulcott Streot. Mr: It. A. Armstrong, president of tlio National Executive, presided, and delegates wero present from all <pver. New Zealand. Chairman's Address.

! The chairman, in opening the .profeeedings, said that the attendance was gratifyingly largo, despite the fact that attendance had been- confined to one representative of each of the principal leagues. Tho size of the conference was proof of the activity of the league. Since the last conforeuco conditions had changed materially. Tho compulsory enlistment of Second Division meii had pegun; and many members of tho league 'were already in canip, including memeel's of the varioiiß oxeoutives. Other yrominont members of, the league had ween rejected on medical gronnds,' and were still helping, the.league to protect .the interests of the men who had to go to the front. • (Hear, bear.) Somo rejnits had been discarded by the executive on the ground that they dealt with matters of Imperial policy. The remaining remits presented v, mass of detail, and care would have to be taken to seo that tho important principles were not obscured. The league had sprung into existence because Second (Division men realised that they had two great responsibilities—the responsibility they owed to their dependants and the responsibility they owed to the State. The league desired to protect tho interests of soldiers and dependants, and at the same time to assist tho Government loyally in conducting New Zealand's part in tho war. It was in the best interests of the country and the Empire that New Zealand should send forward satisfied soldiers. He was satisfied that the men wliu had entered camp during the last two months had done so with a much better spirit than if the conditions of 1917 had been maintained. The league had never wavered from the .principles originally laid down, and had the satisfaction of knowing that muoh of its work had .beon successful. Referring to criticism of the league, Mr. Armstrong said that the people who had the money to meet tbo claims of the league were a-bit perturbed at the prospect of increased taxation. Some of tho people who drove motor-cars and spent their time between afternoon tens and theatres could" not understand why a soldier's 'wife oould not live on 3s. a day. Theso people had to be converted by argument and logic, and ,it was no good getting angry with them.

Reply to Criticism. Referring to an article published in The Dominion, Mr. Armstrong said a suggestion had been made that the league had some ulterior motive in pressing its demands.. That was a. cruel and unjust thing for any newspaper to say about an organisation .which had oloarly defined its objects and' loyally assisted the Government to carry on the war. ,The activities of the league had been of distinct beneiit and assistance to tho Government in ovory way. ' Tho loaguo's criticism of the Government' had al.ways been friendly as far as the Military Service Act was concerned. The members of the. league throughout tho Dominion had never for ouo moment allowed any ulterior motive to bo entertained. (Hear, hear.)'. Anonymous newspaper correspondents had made .statements which hg did npt intend to di&cus,3. Ho did not think many people took, notice of anonymous correcjondents. Recently there had been published in Wellington a letter from a certain returned soldier who had made state-' ments regarding his own position, and had reflected upon the members of the ■ Second Division League, information that had reached the execulivo';showed that the soldier in question had not stated his own position accurately. The league was at one with the Government in carrying on New Zealand's 'part in the war to tho full. But it considered that New Zealand's part in the war did not end in sending soldiers out of the country. At tho present time that was practically all the Dominion was doini} to help the Empire. The league asked for equality of sacrifice. Its contention was quite clear,' that the duty of providing for the maintenance of the hqmes of the men who went away devolved npoh those wh'o remained behind. The league would have to bo carried on presently by the men who were to stay behind. Many of the delegates present would soon be in France, and the others ft-ould have a duty to perform here. State Responsibility. Mr. Armstrong said that the league bad pressed the point of State responsibility from tlie first, and had achieved a large. measure of Support.'.. It had persuaded the Government to accept responsibility for tho soldier from the time ho entered camp. . This principlo had been embodied in the pensions law. The leagua had fought for tho' early medical examination, and held still that

' a pro-ballot examination would havo saved a great deal of troublo all round. It had induced tho Dofenco Department to grant tho threo months notice after examination, and must cling to this concession. Mou who could art'ord to forego tho leave, could do so voluntarily. Then tho pensions system had beon improved on lines proposed by tho leaguo after much hard struggle. every man before leaving New Zealand knowhow ho stood in respect of pension, tho minimum rates heiug fixed. The advances nchioved by the leaguo siuco tho early part of 1917 undoubtedly had keen substantial, Tho separation ;■ "ownnco had beon raised from Is. to: 3s. :. day for tho wife, and from 9d. to Is. (id. a day for the child. Those sums did not meet the claims of the leaguo fully. Certain principles had been established, and it remained to bo seen if the leaguo could perauado tho Government to go a little further and make somo provision for tho soldier's return. With regard to financial assistanco, tho Government, under pressure from tho league, hail provided that balloted men might ask for assistance without first appealing for total exemption. Since then tho Financial Assistanco Board had done its work more or less satisfactorily—generally loss. The league had made representations to the Govornment based on actual cases. It had shown that some men had been required to fight hard for justice before getting fair treatment. That system undoubtedly had existed at ono time.

A delegate: It exists still.' >' Mr. Armstrong referred to tho agitation for greater liberality in the" payment of insuranco premiums. It had been proved that in some cases tho suggestion had been rnado officially that a wife could earn monoy while her husband was absent, but. that would not happen again. The league had now representation on the Financial Assistanco Board,/but jt was too early to say yet if that representation was going to produce the desired result. The one thing certain was that the policy of the Financial Assistanco Board was not' liberal enough. It appeared that no scheme would bo entirely satjsfactoryV if fell .short of providing a net minimum income for the wife alone „ of £2 2s. per week. Mr. Armstrong added that the principles tor which the league had fought had been recognised by the Government, after much hard fightma: and many preliminary refusals. The-attitude of tho league towards the National Government had always been.friendly. 'The league recognised that tho Now Zealand Government had been at a very great disadvantage in meeting the necessities of the war. The Ministers had had no precedents to guide them, and had been largely dependent on officials and Dewhere very much Ted tape existed. The league had beon gnawing at -that red tape, and it could narrow its remaining demands down to com. paratively few points. But those points were very important. He hoped that the conference would be able to convince the Government that the matters still requiring improvements should be attended to without further dolay. The officers of the league had found that they were met with courtesy and consideration by tho Govornmciit Departments. This applied particularly to the Recruiting Board, of which Mr. ,T. D. Gray was secretary. Tho office of tho Recruiting Board was always open to soldiors and dependants who had grievances. It had to be admitted that while the league had converted the .Government on many points, it had been converted occasionally itself, lie was satisfied now that tho financial assistance scheme, if properly and liberally administered, was the best that could be devised. It was better than *ny scheme of direct grants. But the financial assistanco scheme required still to bo liberalised. The Dominion, he added, had to face, three great problems, First, I he provision of recruits; secondly, the upkeep of soldiers' homes; and, thirdly, the, repatriation 'of soldiers. Now that the fourth year of the war was ending it was a blot on the Administration that no adequate, provision for lepatriation had been made. After saying (hat comparisons between pay and allowances in Canada, and. Australia, on the one hand, and New Zealand on the ether hand wen? useless, since lho?o countries had not- reached the stage of recruiting at which New Zealand stood, Mr. Annstrong- said that the United !-'tafes had set. a -good example by providing fixed rates .of disability allowance in advance, and by instituting an insurance scheme, for . soldiers. Tho rates of pre. miumwero so low that a private soldier could get a policy for .£2OOO for about .£ls n year, and in case of his death tho money would be paid to his dependants by monthly instilments over a period of twenty years. That 6ohemn placed tho American soldier in a much more comfortablo position than N tho New Zealand Second Division ejddier occupied. In conclusion, Mr. Armstrong said Mr. Massey had expressed the determination of the Dominion to make "any sacrifice'' in order, that the war might be carried to a successful conclusion. The league wanted the Government to put that principle into practical effect, and seo, that the necessary sacrifice was made on a fair basis by the whole community. The Executive Thanked. ' Mr. A. C. Holmes (Featherston) moved that the conference should record its hearty 'appreciation of the manner in winch the National Executive of the ieague had promoted the mission of the league—to assist the Government to bring the war to a victorious conclusion and to secure by constitutional methods the general welfare of soldiers and their dependants, "thereby greatly strengthen-

ing our national moral by minimising causes for discontent."

Mr. Dickenson (liiivelock) seconded tho motion pro forma. Ho said he wished to draw attention to remit No. 19 (Cnnvastown), which asked members to vote on theso issues: "(1) Should tho lcaguo mould n policy for tho Central Executive? or (2) should tho executivo moi\ld a policy for tho league?" Tho matter mentioned in this remit was-regarded by some delegates as \ital, and ho would like it discussed that day.

Tho chairman said tho speaker was scarcely in. order. The remit ho mentioned hud been placed on tho order paper in order that it might be explained. But as a matter of fact the constitution of the league was entirely democratic. The executive had simply voiced tho definite policy of tho league. Ho was quite confident that some misunderstanding had given rise to tho remit mentioned. If tho Second Division League in Marlborough was not built upon the same democratic basis as the other leagues were built on, he was sorry to hear it. The Wellington league did nothing without first referring to tho members.

Mr. Dickenson said the Marlborough League had based its policy on. democratic lines, and it wished to broaden the lines. He would withdraw his seconding if remit 1!) was going to come forward in due course for full discussion. The vote of thanks to the executive was supported by several delegates. Mr. List (New Plymouth) said some practical sympathy for the executive was needed. Tho executive was very 6hort of money, and lie would head a subscription list with three guineas, Tho chairman said the question of central finance would ■ come. forward later. The conference went into committee to consider question of procedure. The consideration of remits was undertaken after lunch. The Wife's Allowance, Mr. Skinner (Wellington) moved the following remit:— . . "That the federated leagues maintain tho original platform that the separation allowanco for the wife of a soldier siiall be 6s. per day, and that the responsibility of making adequate provision lor tho married soldier's return bo'mot by tho State increasing tho wife's separation allowanco us suggested, and holding tho soldier's deferred pay until his discharge." This remit had been endorsed by Kaukapakapa, Shannon, Marshland, Manakau, Timaru, Rahotu, Northern Wairoa, Flat Creek, I'etone, and Takapau. It was moved as an amendment that tho married soldier should havo the power to deal with his deferred pay in the same way as First Division men did, and that his allotment should not prejudice a claim for financial assistance. Mr. Doylo (Timaru) seconded this amendment. Ho said the wives would be ablo to look after their husbands' money. The decreased purchasing power of money ought: to be takon into consideration. Mr.'T. Buxton (Tcmuka) supported tho amendment. Ho said the demand for a "nest-egg" over and abovo provision for dependants would not bo aeceded to. Tho request knocked the ground from under the league's feet, since First Division men had not had deferred pay if they made an allotment. Tho married soldiers should be free to allot their deferred pay to their wives, who could be trusted to save it if possible. Tho monoy would be needed in many cases during the soldiers' absence..

The chairman said tho conference should remember that tho financial assistance scheme hinged upon tho allotment. Tho Financial Assistance Board at present required a soldier to allot 3s. 6d. a day before it granted insistence. The board based its grants en a .net minimum income' for tho wife, and it appeared that the allotment now proposed ivould 1)0 debited against the wifo .as far as.the board was loncorned.

. Mr. Buxton: But she will bo sure of gelling the money. The chairman: "Thai is so. Hut under present conditions every penny of extra mopey yoi« provide for your vifc relieves the Financial Assistance Hoard to that extent." Tho practice of tho board was to deduct from tho wife's total income, including allotment and allowance, the liabilities she had to meet within , tho financial assistance regulations. /.Then the board made ip tho bajanco to a net income of .£9O a year for. tho wife alone. ' '' After further discussion the amendment was rejected. Scale Allowances. Mr. 11. F. Toogood (Featherston) moved as an, amendment to the Wellington remit the following remit from the Featherston League:—' "That wjth a view to bringing our basic proposals into an harmonious relationship, and where desirable abreast of the Government scheme, the separation allowances be reconsidered on .tho following basis:— £ s. d. (1) Wife; with children 2 2 0 (2) Wife, without children' 1 11 G (3) Each child 0 10 C (i) Widowed mother (if wholly dependent) 1 11 C (a) Guardian of motherless <hildnen .; ' 1 1 ft «i) Each motherless child 0 If G (7) Chronic invalid wife (extra) 0 10 0 (8) Chronic invalid child or .other dependant (extra) ... 0 5 0 (fl) Invalid father, or invalid 'brother or sister (if wholly dependent) 110 (10) Brothers and sisters under children's ogo (if wholly dependent) 0 10 6 (11) Partial Dependants.—An amount within the abo7e limits, and not exceeding the value of the benefit in fact received by them from the soldior during the year preceding tho date upon which he became a member of the Forces. War, old age, and widows' oiviiinn pensions to bo exclusive es concerning the abovo provisions." Mr. Toogood 6aid he believed the league had not adopted the best policy in asking for Cs. a day for the wife It would be better to adopt tho principlo laid down in the pensions law by making a "home allowance," thus giving weight to special responsibilities of tho women who had children, The league's' caso would bo strengthened if tho distinction made by the pensions law in favour of the mother as against thq childless wife was ombodied in tho scheme of allowances. Mr. A. C. Holmes (Featherston) supported the amendment, He suggested that some of the "childless wives had small claim on the consideration of the country, and mado some references to "gad-about wives." Mr. J. Campbell (Christchurch) said that to adopt tho amendment would be to commit a breach of faith with the Class A men, who had already entered camp. It was not fair to ask the childless wifo to accept is. 6d. a day while the wifo with children got 6s. a day. The league was not asking merely that tho wives should bo kopt in reasonable comfort: it wanted the homes kept in .being in readiues6 for the return of tho men. Mr. C. Donohoy (Featherston) also referred to "gad-about wives." and was asked by the chairman not to proceed on these lines. Several other speakers objected to tho suggestions of the Featherston delegates. Thoy asked that the basis of the discussion should bp the average home of tho Second Diyision • reservist. In answer to a question. Mr. Toogood said tho Featherston League wished the soldier to have full power to allot his pay. After somo further discussion, which included various references to tho varying characteristics and habits of wives, i Mr. Toogood withdrew the amendment "on account of the -unfortunate way iu which it has been received by the conference." Allotment and Deferred Pay. Mr. Doylo (Timarn) moved as a further amendment: "That this conferenco is strongly of opinion that the Gs. a day allowance demanded by tho league for tho wife of a soldier while on active sorvice • should be for tho uso | of tho soldier's wife, irespective of anv allotment made by her liusband." This. amendment was rejected by 26 votes to 16. Further discussion took place on tho question of the soldiers' deferred pay. ,Somo delegates considered the soldier should be freo to allot part of his pay to his wifo oven if she wcrp receiving tho 6s. a dav allowance demanded by the league. Other delegates urged that tho league would defeat its own demand for increased separation allowance if it aban. doned tho ''nost-ogjj" idea, A proposal to

refer the matter to a committee was de. fcatcd. Tho Wellington remit was adopted finally in its original form. "Sins of the Fathers." The following Wellington remit was adopted:— "That the loagno ronovrs its original request that allocated pay mid allowances shall not bo affected by the misconduct of tho soldier." The chairman mid Iho league had already mado on tho point. The Governmeut regarded tho powor to punish the wives and children as u means of imposing discipline among tho Second Division men. Sovoral dolegates protested warmly against a wife and children being penalised, oven placed in actual want, because tho husband and father had committed somo military offence under new and unaccustomed conditions. Cases of extreme hardship had occurred. Men were being taken compulsorily to fight for tho Empire. The Government undertook to maintain their wives and children, but it reserved tho right to cut or the income of helpless women and children on ncocuut of a misdemeanour in which they had no part.

Romits Rejected. Mr. Rosa (Wanganui) moved the follow, ing remit:— "In view of the continual decreaso in the valuo of money, in consequence of which the allowances received to-day aro considerably discounted as tune goes on, this conference makes claim thai all allowances be increased every six months from June 80 next by a percentage equivalent to the increase in tho coat of living lis disclosed by the calculations of the Government Statistician." Ho referred to tho rising cost of living, and said that in adopting the remit tlio league would simply bo keeping its demands abreast of tho cost of living. The Government had done practically nothing to check the rise of prices. Several delegates argued that tho proposal was impracticable and would prejudice the claim-of tho leeguo for increased soparation allowance. The remit was lejected on the voices. Tho chairman stated that he considered tho remit had been rejected on grounds of policy. The justice of the proposal was not doubted.

Loyal Subjects. Tim followiuc remit from Timaru was carried without debate:— "That as loyal subjects of the Empire, wo feel that' Now Zealand should carry out fully its , obligations, but, whilst the urgency of the Empire's need applies equally to all. New Zealand being the only colony that is conscripting its married men, the Government should take this fact into consideration in framing allowances." Other Dependants, Tho Featherston delegates reintroduced their remit regarding separation allowances in this form:— "That separation allowances be reconsidered on tho following basis: A s. d. Mother (if wholly dopendent) ... 1 10 0 Guardian of motherless children 10 0 J'laah motherless child 0 15 0 Chronic invalid wife (extra) 0 10 0 Chronic invalid child or other dependant (extra) 0 5 0 Invalid father, or invalid brothor or sister (if wholly dependent) .'.' ;••' 1 0 0 Brothers and sisters under chil-. dron's ago (if wjiolly depend-' ent)' 0 10 G War, old age, and widows' civilian pensions to bo exclusive as concerning tho abovo provisions." These proposals were adopted after debate. The executive was directed to inquire regarding the position of dependants of •ft soldier who becamo dependent owing b death or> other circumstance, after soldier's enlistment. Financial Assistance. . The following Wollinslun remit was moved by Sir. tfkinnei';— "That Ooverniuent bo asked to direct tho Financial Assistance Board to adopt as a principle tho establishment of a minimum net income for tho 'wife only' of J!2 2s. per week (children's allowances extra), clear of recurring obligations covered by the financial • assistance regulations." In the course of brief discussion it was stated that tho Financial Assistance Board did not always make grants largo enough to provide its own minimum not incomt. The remit was adopted. Interest on Mortgages.

The following remit from Marshland (Canterbury) was moved:^"That the Financial Assistance :Board should provide tho interest on mortgaged farms to tho full limit of the regulations, without reservation 'as to financial ability of the soldier." Mr. H. M'Millan (Marshland) said that small farmers should not be required to use their savings to meet interest charges during their absence. The board took the view that the farm should be sell-supporting, ,but as a matter of fact tho more expensive land was not easily kept in a fully productive condition during the owner's absence. Dolegates urged that it would bo impossible to grant assistance to farmers "without reservation" unless all other businesses were placed on tho same footing. The Financial Assistance Board did not require a reservist to spend his capital during his absence. The interest on capital alone was taken into consideration. The small i farmer with a big mortgage would be able to. get financial assistance. Tho remit was withdrawn. Soldiers' Insurance. The following Wellington remit was adopted in cases where an old life insurance policy is in existenco for a less amount than ,£3OO, the reservist shall bate tho right to incroaso his insurance to ,£3OO, and premium and war risk thereon shall be paid by the Financial Assistant Board in cases whero a grant of financial assistance is justified. Assistance by Right. The following remit was moved on behalf of Featherston:—"That in view of the evident inadequacy of. grants being made in many instances by the Financial Assistance Board, and the apparent inconsistency of same, the Government be urged to provide that all grants shall be made in accordance with scheduled conditions, and as far as pre-war liabilities are concerned, by right, irrespective of income restrictions, thus avoiding much dissatisfaction and departure from the principles followed in regard to pay and pensions/' In the course of discussion dolegates criticised tho work of the Financial Assistance Board holly. It was stated that the hoard was "breeding disloyalists" by failing to make the grants (hat soldiers had a right to expect. Mr. List (New Plymouth) snid there had been a decided improvement in the work of the hoard lately. It would be a mistake to place a .weapon in. the hands of the league's onemies by carrying the remit, which would not be approved by the judgment of the public. Other delegates said it would ba impracticable to draft a schedule of the kind proposed. Thousands of different cases had to 'dp dealt with. An amendment that the words after "schcdnUd conditions" should be deleted was withdrawn, and tho remit was rejected. Soldiers' Allotment, A proposal mado by the Featherston League, "that tho Government be asked to amend the financial assistance regulations in the matter of fixing the' allotment of a successful applioaut at .Ts. Gil. per day, the additional fid. being calculated to relieve the board and not assist tho soldier or his dependants," was adoptod. Ropatriatipn. It was decided that tho question of repatriation should ho considered by a committee, no effort to be made to secure tho co-operation of' tho Returned Soldiers' Associations. In the course of discussion on this point tho chairman said repatriation at presont concerned several Ministers and Departments, and it appeared that nono of these Ministers would consent to part with powers already possessed. , It might ho possible to sccurp tho appointment of a Board of Repatriation, on which all the Ministers concerned could sit. A committee was appointed to report to-dn.l,