HELENSVILLE SECOND DIVISION LEAGUE.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 27 September 1917, Page 3

HELENSVILLE SECOND DIVISION LEAGUE.

COMMITTEE MEETING

A MEETING of the Committee of the above League was held in the Helensville Public Library on Monday evening last. Mr J. F. Lambert occupied the chair. Several new members were present, and they promised to do their best to get others to join. The membership list is going up, several ladies and First Division men coming in. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Mr L. L. Bailey (Secretary) read a good deal of correspondence, both inward and outward, which was accepted and adopted. SUB BRANCHES WANTED. The following letter was sent to Messrs R. Hoe (Woodhill), G. Kerr - Taylor (Waimauku), J. Stewart (Kaukapakapa), and T. W. Hooper (Makarau):— Dear Sir,—At a meeting of the above League I was instructed to write to you asking if you would invite the residents of your District together with the object of forming a sub branch of the Helensville League. I need hardly point out to you the necessity of pushing the claims of the Second Divisiou League, viz.:— (a) To assist the Government to obtain the satisfactory working of regulations made under the Military Service Act and amendments thereof. (b) To exert every possible influence and endeavour to bring the war to a victorious conclusion by demonstrating the loyalty of New Zealand reservists. (c) To secure by constitutional methods consideration for the general welfare of all soldiers and their dependents.

(d) Obtain more liberal allowances and pensions than at present. i (c) The League shall be strictly nonparty and non religious. Membership—Every subject of His Majesty the King, f vrho is in sympathy with the objects of the League shall, if attained the age of 21 years, be eligible as a full member of the League upon payment of subscription as hereunder determined. The subscription to the League is 2s 6d per annum for men and Is for ladies. I am enclosing a copy of draft of constitution and rules, and one copy of the proceedings of the Second Division Delegates' Conference at Wellington, which I trust you will kindly peruse and , make as widly ku own as you can. If it can be arranged I will try and get one of our members to meet you to further explain the objects of the League; however, in the meantime, I would ask you to make the matter as widely known as you can, and so help the League in its good work. If the members of the S.D. have to go away leaving their dependents inadequately provided for, they will have no one but themselves to blame, unless they stand up now and fight for their rights. Wishing you every success.—(Signed) J. F. Lambert, President. L. L. Bailey, Secretary. CORRESPONDENCE. Correspondence was received from the following : — From Mr A. Harris, M.P., stating that the details in connection with the Second Division Reservists would be before Parliament at an early date, when the representations of the League would receive his careful attention. From Mr A. A. Creamer, Auc Island, stating that Sir Joseph. Ward offers allowances by regulation. —'The League must have same by legislation, not regulation. From Hon. J. Allen, Welling^ ton, enquiring whether allowances required are for dependents in case of disablement or death of soldier, or allowances to de-' pendents while on active service. —Replied that allowances required for dependents in case of disablement or death, and allowances to dependents while on active service.

From Hon. J. Allen, stating that in his opinion it would be to the disadvantage of soldiers and dependents if separation allowances are fixed by statute. There has^ never been a case in which pay or allowances provided by regulations have been reduced, on the contrary, amended regulations have improved allowances.

From Mr A. A. Creamer, saying that he wanted all Committees to write at once to their Member, adyocating a roundtable conference with members of the Cabinet before they commit themselves to inadequate provisions, as the League are " up against it."

From same —On pensions and allowances by regulation, citing that our boys might go toFrance with an allowance of 6s per day to their wives ■ three months later the Minister might reduGe it to 4s, and they would be helpless.

From same —That a most important conference" will beheld at Wellington on Thursday, 37th inst. ■ A delegate is urgently requested from each League.-^-Replied that Mr Creamer be asked to represent this League,

as he would do his utmost in the matter. Two more members were added to the Committee, viz., Messrs J. Sproston and F. MacKenzie. Accounts amounting to £1 9s 2d were passed for payment. The following suggestions came before the Conference held in Wellington last July : — BASIC PRINCIPLES OF PENSION SCHEME. (1). To place incapacitated men and their dependents in approximately their pre-war position. (2) Inducing men to improve their positions without penalising them. 3. Care of incapacitated soldiers and dependents. MINIMUM FLAT RATE OF PENSIONS. £ s. d. 100 per cent incapacitated ... 2 1 3 80 per cent „ ... 1 13 0 70 per cent „ ... 1 8 10^ 60 per cent „ ... 1 4 9 50 per cent „ ... 1 1 l\i 40 per cent „ ... 16 6 30 per cent „ ... 12 4H 20 per cent ~ ... .83 Where injuries are not scheduled, pension to be at nearest approximate rate. —Children's Allowance— A flat rate of 10s 6d per child; to males to age 17 ; unmarried females, 20ALTERNATIVE PENSIONS. Any disabled man pensioned under the above, who makes application, and shows that the minimum pension with children's allowances (if any) which have been granted, together with the average earnings (if any) of which he /remains capable, are less than his *pre-war earnings, may be granted, temporarily or permanently, in lieu of the minimum pension and children's allowances, a pension which, together with the average earnings (if any)-of which he is judged capable, shall not exceed his pre-war earnings up to a maximum of 75s per week, plus half of any pre-war earnings between 75s and 150s per week, (N.B. —The idea is to enable disabled men and their dependents to enjoy, as nearly as possible, their pre-war standard of living, up to a stated maximum.) —Services of Attendant — Where a disabled man requires an attendant, an allowance of 20s weekly shall be made as a pension for this purpose. —Special Benefits — Allowances to be given to men to bring their pensions up to those for the highest degree of disablement, and to enable them to keep their wives and families (if they have to live apart from them during treatment at Sanatoria, etc., or while being trained for vocations). All fees involved to be paid by the State, and and in the case of training, a sum at the rate of 7s 6d per week to be given to a man for the period of its duration as a bonus, at the end of it. —Capitalising Small Pensions— In the case of slight injuries, and in certain other cases (such as neurasthenia patients) a gratuity up to £300 to be provided, —Compensation to Camp Discharges— Gratuity to compensate for financial losses to men discharged from camp after having been sent in, and whose unfitnesa is neither attributable to, nor aggravated by, their service, to receive gratuity (with a limit, say, of £225) to be assessed according to the financial loss incurred through being called into camp. —Penalties— If a man declines to undergo treatment medically certified to be in his interests half of any pension which he would otherwise be eligible for, may be withheld from him. A permanent pension however, must not be altered to his disadvantage.