MILITARY SERVICE.

Taihape Daily Times, 30 May 1918, Page 4

MILITARY SERVICE.

SECOND DIVISION'S DEMANDS. ! mm . THE GOVERNMENT'S DECISION. The Minister of Defence, in the course of a statement giving the Cabinet's decision on the demands of the Second Division League, says: "The present separation allowances are to stand. The Government will give sympathetic consideration to improvements in the repatriation scheme, particularly in respect to a returned soldier who, on discharge," cannot be placed in suitable employment. It may take some time to evolve a satisfactory scheme, but every effort will be made to remove the fear a soldier may have that orT~discharge he will not be in a position to provide tor himself, his wife, and dependents. Provision has been made to pay separation allowances to dependents being relatives of a soldier (other than wife, widowed mother, and children), equivalent to the amount the soldier provided during the 12 months prior to his enlistment, with a maximum of 10s 6d. Regarding grants made by t> n Financial Assistance Board, the

Board's policy is to meet recurring obligations, so that a minimum net income of £9O is left to a wife after rent, etc., has been provided for. The £9O is to stand, but the¥ilinister points out that it is the minimum only, and for a wife without children. The Government has definitely decided that a wife's earnings shall not be tak, en into consideration whe;jponsider. iiig this minimum, becausWh; wiqiies to encourage the wives of soldiers to take up occupations during their husbands' absence on service. The question of pay and allowance being affected by the misconduct of a soldier, is to receive further consideration. Regarding CI men, the Minister says: At present a CI reservist of the Second Division is treated as a fit man and given three months between the medical examination and being called to camp, but requests made are receiving careful consideration, and the League will be further communicated with on the subject at an early date. The Minister regrets that the request that the age limit for children for pension should be eighteen 'years for male ,and twenty-one for female, cannot be agreed to, but points out that the pension payable to a female child, may, if the Board thinks fit, be continued until the age of seventeen is reached, and the pension payable to any child suffering from any mental or bodily infirmity, may bft continued for such period as turn Board thinks fit. The'League's proposals regarding the protection of the businessess of reservists have been submitted to the National Efficiency Board, and the question will again be discussed with the Board at the next meeting.