WELLINGTON NOTES

Hokitika Guardian, 10 June 1918, Page 4

WELLINGTON NOTES

PENALISING MOTHERHOOD.

SECOND DIVISION PROTEST

(Our Special Correspondent) WELLINGTON, June 7

At a meeting of the National Executive of the Second Division League held here last night it was resolved to withdraw the League’s representative on the Soldiers’ Financial Assistance Board as a protest against the Board’s refusal to make more generous concession to the wives of soldiers with children. It was alleged that under the Board’s policy the wife with one child received only' £4 a year more than the wife with no children, and a specific instance showing this to be the case was quoted at the meeting. The members of the Executive profess to have taken this extreme step with some regret, but as the views of the League’s representative have been persistently flouted by his colleagues on the Board they saw no other course open to them. THE BOARD’S ATTITUDE. The Executive’s resolution, introduced by a very lengthy preamble, has been forwarded to the Acting Print© Minister, and though the withdrawal of the League’s representative will depend upon that gentleman’s own inclinations, ho having been formally appointed by the Government on the nomination of the League, no doubt he will readily agree to the wishes of the Executive. The Minister, while deploring the loss of the assistanse of a direct representative of the Leaguo m carrying out the difficult duties of the Board, has no fear that his withdrawal will result in less careful attention being given to every case brought up for consideration. The Board is allotted a wide margin of discretion in every case which will continue to bo exercised with a lively regard to the just claims of the soldiers’ dependents. THE NEXT BALLOT. The April and May ballots having exhausted Class B of the Second Division, Reservists, that is, with one child, it is expected that a ballot in Class C, Reservists with two children, will be taken this month. There are, roughly '28,000 men in this Class and probably 10 000 names will be drawn in the impending ballot. How soon after the drawing tho men will be mobilised will depend upon the' shipping facilities available during tho next few days. The camps are already fairly full, the Minister of Defence wishing to be in.a position to supply the increased Reinforcements suggested by the Imperial authorities, and it is unlikely any men of Class C. will be required before October nnd perhaps before Nevomber or December. THE PRESS PICNIC,

Tlie announcement' that the Acting Prime Minister had received an invitation to send five prominent journalists as the guests of the Imperial Government was not favoured by a wild rush of newspaper men to he included in the favoured party. But when the names of the quintet selected by the newspaper Proprietors’ Association got abroad at the beginning of the week, Ministers were deluged with angry protests from all parts of the journalistic world. Four of the live are attached to Reform newspapers, chiefly in a commercial capacity, and it is felt, apparently with some show of reason, that ibis would not be a fair distribution of representation. The acting party leaders, Sir James Allen and the Hon. W. D. S. MacDonald, while warmly appreciating the Imperial Government’s offer, of hospitality are wishing its allotment had not been left to their discretion.