SECOND DIVISION LEAGUE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 14, 11 October 1918, Page 6

SECOND DIVISION LEAGUE

PROTECTION OF SAILORS' WIVES,

The National Executive of the Second Division League held its weekly meeting last evening, Mr. It. A. Armstrong being in the chair. . A letter, from the Superintendent of the State' Advances Department detailing the policy regarding postponement of payments of instalments of principal was discussed, and it was decided to ask the Government to pass legislation which would have the effect of making provision as of right for the protection of soldier mortgagors after discharge, not only in connection with State advances, but also where private mortgages were concerned.

A serious position was disclosed by a, letter from the wife of a sailor in tho British Navy who had enlisted in' New Zealand and for some reason had suddenly stopped payments to his wife of allotment and separation allowances, leaving her to secure her living as best she could. Investigations made by t|io leaguo had disclosed the startling fact that the Admiralty takes no responsibility in regard to the dependants of sailors, and whereas military "regulations compel the married soldier of tlie Expeditionary Forces to mnke provision for their wives, the sailor of the British Navy is subject to no control in this matter. From correspondence produced in the case in question it appeared that tlie man concerned had transferred his affections to another woman in England, and bad callously cast adrift his lawful wife. Application made by tlie wife through the usual official channels had merely elicited the reply that nothing could be done, as the stoppage had been made at the husband's renuest. The executive expressed astonishment that such a state of affairs could exist, and a communication was .authorised to be sent to the. Minister of Defence asking that immediate steps be taken to provide for sailors' wives resident in New Zealand the same measure of protection as that accorded by Government to the wives of soldiers.