ALLOWANCES SHOULD BE RETROSPECTIVE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 222, 7 June 1918, Page 6

ALLOWANCES SHOULD BE RETROSPECTIVE

ATTITUDE OE RETURNED' SOLDIERS' ASSOCIATION.

Mr. D. J. B. Seymour, general secretary, New Zealand Returned Soldiers Association, commented yesterday upon the references of the president of the .Second Division League to criticism; ot it by the Returned Soldiers' Association. The main point at issue was tlie attitude of the league towards the claim of the association that allowances should bo made retrospective. Mr. Seymour stated that while official correspondence had never passed between tho two organisations on this subject, tho attitude of the association had, he thought, been mado clear in conversation with Mr. Armstrong. As lie understood it the league was primarily occupied with the securing of a rate for the beneiit of themselves, and considered that they were under no obligation to insist upon a retrospective scheme for tho men -who had already' gone. l f roro such a view tlie association dissented very strongly. Married men to the number of 799G had volunteered prior to tho Conscription Act, and the association could not readily understand why the league, instead of maintaining an attitude of indifference to their claims, had not insisted that the claims of those men ranked equally with their own, if they did not take precedence. It was idlo .to maiutam tnnt tho dependants of such of these men as had survived automatically came under the new scale on January \, 1018, because the general public should know that the war had then lasted three and a half years, and for this punod llio married volunteer could content himself with the old rates and tho prospect of participating on January 1, 11)18, in tlie crumbs which would then begin to lull from the league's new table. Tho moral of the situation was obvious. On tho outbreak of war a great appeal was made from Press and platform for men. In response to it, and placing confidence in the promises made, many marTied men volunteered, relying on those left behind to give them a square (tail. Tho .sequel was a plain breach of faith on the part of the Government and also of the Second Division League. A scale was duly drawn up, and the 7990 married volunteers were excluded from its operation, because .they did not bargain for their services. , v The Minister of Defence disclaimed responsibility because tlie law did not compel tho volunteers to eo. But he could not disclaim responsibility for tho moral pressure .of pblic opinion fostered ns much as possible by the Government—a pressure to men of patriotic instincts more cogent than that of the law. In referenco to Mr. Armstrongs suggestion of a concrete- retrospective scheme the general secretary stated that the association had hitherto heen occupied with the vindication of the principle involved which eo far as he was aware hnd not lvrni concerted either by the Minister of Defence or the leacue. So soon, however, as this was udmiltod, the association would proceed with such a scheme. ITp wi» of the opinion that an extremely simple plan of operation could be devised which would deal very satisfactorily with the wholo matter.