SECOND DIVISION LEAGUE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1735, 29 September 1917, Page 3

SECOND DIVISION LEAGUE.

DEMANDS AND REQUESTS

The Second Division League Conference at Wellington considered a motion to the effect that if financial difficulties stand in the way of granting the League's demands regarding allowances and pensions, the Government should take immediate steps to legislate for providing that no person in New Zealand shall receive a nett income of more than £509 per annum. Supporters of the motion, which was trenchantly worded, said its object was to obtain equality of sacrifice. Ministers had stated that the country could not afford to grant their demands. The Conference should accept the challenge as the country was in a position to pay the amounts asked for if a firm stakd was taken. After a discussion, in which several speakers expressed themselves very vigorously, the drafting of the motion was submitted to a subcommittee. The Conference resolved unanimously, “That this Conference' urges emphatically upon the Government the equity and justice of (lie League’s demands in the matter of provision for soldiers and their dependents and the application of [he equality of sacrifice to all seelions of the community and deplores and disagrees with the Ministerial statements that the necessary taxation will imperil the financial stability of (he Dominion, and furl Iter holds that the Government must, in carrying' on New Zealand-s pari in the war, face as a war measure the responsibility of applying Hie principle of equality of: sacrifice down to the level which that principle demands and circumstances render necessary.’ A committee which waited upon the Minis'tcr reported that amounts payable to widows will be increased from Ids tq 15s, under which arrangement the scale will be: Widow without child, £2 ss; widow wlln one child, £3 2s (id; with two children', £3 10s; with, ihree children, £3 17s (id; with four children, £4. It was decided to ask the Government to insist on a provision in the Bill making pensions payable to men from the date of their first parade, and, in ease of death, to wife and children. The Conference has adjourned.