WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Taihape Daily Times, 23 May 1918, Page 5

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

THE SECOND DIVISION. PAT AND ALLOWANCES; " \ WELLINGTON, May 22 Delegates from the various branched of the Second Division League . ara Mtfoetine in. in ton to-day for the purpose of further, considering the attitude of the Government towards the League's demand that the wife's separation allowance shall be increased from 3s a day to 6s The delegates, as well .as the rank and! file of the League, have taken pains to emphasise their desire to do their: duty in the present crisis, and the only difference between them and the Go.vennent is over the provision that should be made for the soldiers' de-i pedents. This a question which obviously admits of a good deal of argument and of many differences of opinion, but the general feeling here is that" while the League 'has done a large amount of very excellent work in the interests of both the First and the Second Reservists it is disposed toi press its present demand a little too far.

WHAT IS PAID. The existing provision for dependents, estimating the relief given to the family's finances by its head ob-> taining his food, clothing, medical at< tendance and so forth free of cost at 20s a week, certainly is not very inadequate compared with the average husband's civilian earnings. The private without wife or children, adding his cost to the State to his pay of 5s a day, receives £2 15s a week, with' wife only, £3 16s; with wife and one child, £4 6s 6d; with wife and two children, £4 17s; with wife and three children, £5 7s 6d; with" wife and four children, £5 18s; with wife and five children, £6 Ss, and so on, increasing at the rate of 10s Gd for each child. In addition to these payments, whicft are subject to no deductions, the Fin* ancial Assistance Board may give help to the extent of £3 a week in respect to rent, insurance and similar demands. THE GOVERNMENT'S VIEWS. The Minister of Defence and his colleagues do not contend that, they .are adequately compensating the wife for the temporary loss of her husband' or the children for the temporary loss of their father. The exigencies of war make personal sacrifices inevitable. Mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers have made them "in : respect % ; r-members of the First Division' •without monetary compensation of any-kind ■- But apart from the person- ; ;aUrlossy :which cafhh'ot be'cbverld by money, whatever the amount; the wife of the average wage-earner, assuming her husband allots her 3s a day' of his own pay, is substantially better off when her husband is in camp or at the war than she is when he is at home. The average earnings of the worker are about £3 a week in civilian employment, while as a soldier with a wife and two children he and his dependents receive £3 17s i a money and he can easily spare £3 5s or £3 10s fo* the maitonance of his family. FURTHER CONCESSIONS This may seem a hard matter of fact view of the position, bringing little consolation to the wife left with children to care for without the assistance of her help-mate, and the existence of numbers of patriotic organisations anxious to help the wives and children of soldiers does not meet all the needs of the situation. Ministers admit as much as this and they are talking, not very definitely it must be confessed, of further provision being made for the families of the men who are fighting the battles of the Empire. The homes are to be kept together, the children are not to suffer in education or in opportunity, and the Financial Assistance Board is to open its heart and its hands a little wider. Were these fair promises put into" concrete shape, so that the country might feel assured of its obligations bein- discharged to the fullest extent of its ability oven the Sehond Division League might cease from troubling and be at rest. In the meantime it is satisfactory to have the members of the League re-affirming their determination to do their duty i n arms as well »■ in councils.