SECOND DIVISION LEAGUE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9792, 16 October 1917, Page 6

SECOND DIVISION LEAGUE

MEETING AT EASTBOURNE. About thirty residents of Eastbourne attended a meeting held in the It as Lbouruo Borough Council Chambers last evening to hear representatives of tho National Federation of Second Division Leagues, and to form a local committee of the league. Mr A. Aislabie presided. Mr R. A. Armstrong (president) outlined tho position of tho league ana the necessity of its continued existence to watch the administration of tho Acts audi regulations governing soldiers and their dependents. It could not be too widely known that tho league’s proposals were for tho wellbeing of First Division soldiers equally with those of the Second Division. Mr H. F. Toogood, vice-president, urged the necessity of effective organisation to keep the homes of married soldiers together. The last man was ready to do his duty, but the man with tho last shilling seemed to suffer from “cold feet.” Mr C. H. Chapman, hon. secretary, stated that tho one shilling a day separation allowance to wives of soldiers could have been instituted only to discourage enlistment of married men, and it would be criminal to take that as the basis of separation allowances. The sum proposed by the leagues was reasonable —6s per day for wife and Is 6d per day for each child would not permit of many luxuries. Tho leagues were increasing in membership, and possessed the confidence of a large body of the public,' who wanted to be certain no unnecessary hardships should fall on the dependents of ’those fighting the nation’s baffles. Several questions as to the position of reservists, especially in relation to financial assistance, were asked and answered by the speakers. Mr O. A. Marquis moved, Mr P. Atkinson seconded, and it was unanimously carried: —'“That this meeting of residents of Eastbourne fully endorses the proposals for separation allowances put forward by the Second Division League, and urges the Government to make adequate provision for the wives and children of our soldiers apart from any allocation of deferred pay, and that a copy of this resolution bo sent to the Prime Minister and tho member for the district Mr Ollier moved, and Mr Dowris seconded “That a branch of the Second Division League be formed at Eastbourne and a committee set up to act as a local channel of advice and assistance to reservists and their dependents.” —Carried unanimously. Tho following committee was appointed;—Messrs E. T. "Wise, F. •). Munro, C. Green, Davis, H. A. Baker. A. Aislabie, J. D. Avery, P. J, Shackleford, C. A. Marquis. P. Atkinson, D. Manning, C. F. Pago, Day, and W. Ollier (lion, secretary). NAPIER RESOLUTIONS. Press Association. NAPIER, October 15. Tho Nnpicr branch of the Second Division League passed tko following resolutions to-night:— “That in view of tho Government’s attitude in dealing with the league’s proposals for widows’ pensions, it bo a recommendation to tho Dominion Federation that all leagues throughout the Dominioiv bo formed with political organisations. “That the Napier Second Division League emphatically and urgently protests against tho reported statement of Sir James Allen to the effect that the pension scheme for widows would have been more liberal had it been wise to make it so, but any pension scheme which did not encourage the recipient to go to work was not wise, but Unsound.”