SECOND DIVISION.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 July 1917, Page 4

SECOND DIVISION.

THE WELLINGTON CONFERENCE. Weeilxoton, July 20 Delegates from the conference of the Second Division League waited, on members of Parliament to-day, and placed before them the resolutions passed by the conference regarding the pay And pensions of soldiers. About fifty members were present, and the meeting was presided over by Mr T. M. Wilford, M.P. It was decided that Messrs D. H. Gnthrie, M.P., ahd G. W. FoibeS, M.P,, should be the permanent channels of communication between the League and membersjaf Parliament, and that tie Prime Minister, the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Detenee be asked to meet members , of Parliament And the League at the I round table conference, j Before concluding, the President jof the League said: “We are prepared to go to the bitter end ih this struggle, and I will undertake to have a motion passed to that; effect.” DEPUTATION TO MR MASSEY. Wki.uxutux, July -0 The members of the Second Division Conference waited on the Prime 'Minister this Afternoon, and speeches were made on the lines of those niade at the meeting with members of Parliament in the mottling. Mr Massey, replying said that practically he had no fault to find with the views expressed. As to the request for,early examination of Second Division Arm, lie could say that the examination Would be made AS eitrly as possible. The Defence Department would give effect to the promise he was making The most important point of All was regarding dependents. If the meh went their dependents would be considered to lie, for the time being, wards of the State, and the State wbuld do its duty to them. The dependents would be looked after, tie wAs glad to notice that the British pensions scheme, the princinles Uf which, had been adopted by the Conference, was particularly generous regarding the financial ability. He could not go into devils the moment but he would say that what England was eipSgted to dei for its soldieis, New ZeaUnd Would be able to do for its. Parliament would have the question to deal with later in the session, long before the Sdcimd Division was called on to go to the front. He hoped that he had always btien in favour of pensions by right, bat there had been . difficulties ifi the way. When New Zealand passed its pension scheme that scheme WA3 the most geriefons in the Empire. Since others had imp?pved wjd , maybe New SSealamd should revise its