WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Taihape Daily Times, 21 February 1918, Page 4

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

THE SECOND DIVISION LEAGUE, PROVISION FOR DEFENCE. (Special Correspondent.)

WELLINGTON, Feb 20.

The meeting of members of the Sec* ond Division League held here last night, while resolutely demanding 'better provision for the dependents of soldiers, steadfastly refused to be drawn into the political arena in connection with the= Wellington Nor in byelection. A proposal to the effect "mat the League shuld endeavour to bring about the defeat of the Government candidate at the elcetion as a protest against the "callous indifference" of those in authority was ruled out of order by the chairman as being inconistent with the constitution of the League, and the sense of the meeting was obviously against launching out on the troubled sea of party politics. But,the members were unanimous in, denouncing the administration of the Soldiers' Financial Assistance Board and in calling upon the Government to establish a board, with similarjpowers to the present central body, iri each of t* e four chief provincial t en* tres of the Dominion CASES OF HARDSHIP. r Tha cases of hardship, quoted by the chairman and by other members of the League, certainly suggested that the dependents of many of the Second. Reservists would suffer very severely if no further consideration were

shown thorn than that provided by the regulations and given by the Financial Assistance Board. Homes would have to be broken up and the conditions of life largely altered for thei worse. But the authorities contend, with some reason, that it is/ impossible to discriminate between the Reservists in one social position and these in another to the extent the League is demanding. The present provision for dependents imposes great financial sacrifice upon the wife and children of a man earning £3 or £4 a week, but it necessarily does upon those of a man earning £B. or £lO a week. The men's personal sacrifice being practically the same, the Minister wants to know-how he is to deal with the problem. MR. P. C. WEBB. The telegrams that have passed between the secretary of the Miners' Union and various members of the Cabinet concerning the demand for the exemption of Mr. P. C. Webb, the member for Grey, show that the- ! Ministers have at least maintained a S constitutional and logical attitude in regard to-the matter.. The iminers' messages insis upon their "constitutional right" and threaten to resent any in« terference with these rights by "immediate and industrial revolt." The Ministers' replies, though conciliatory in tone, are perfectly frank in substance. Mr. Massey and Sir James" Allen point out that the question of" exemption remains entirely with the Military Service Boards. Mr.' W. D< S. MacDonald supplements the very proper observations of his colleagues with a little reminder on his own account "It would be well to remember,' 'he says, "that when we demand constitutional rights we can obtain those rights only by abiding by the constitutional laws of the Dominion." The Minister of Mines is a very consistent friend of the men and his sageadvice ought not to be disregarded.

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL,

The prompt appointment of Major Harris to the Legislative Council has attracted special attention only; through the fact that other members of the Council whose terms have ex* pired since the formation of the National Cabinet have not received a similar distinction. Major Harris, who is now eighty-one years of age, has sat in the .Council since 1897, antf though he cannot be regarded as a great political force in the country; everyone will be pleased to see him' still occupying his old place. But his re-appointment has again directed attention to the dwindling number of councillors and to the advanced year 9 of a great majority of them. The real work of the Council falls upon the shoulders of half-a-dozen members, 'and all things considered they bear it extraordinarily well, hat unless the Chamber is to be left to die of attenuation it will have to be reinforced very shortly.