SECOND DIVISION LEAGUE.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 June 1917, Page 6

SECOND DIVISION LEAGUE.

"' NEWi PLYMOUTH BRANCH. . -':■ __ meeting was held In tie Soldiers Club on Saturday night for the -purpose of considering the advisability of forming a branch in New Plymouth of the Second Division League. About 30 gentlemen were present, and the convener, Mr. J. S. S. Medley, was voted to the chair.

The chairman, in opening, said perhaps the best thing he could do to place the position before the meeting would be to read a statement of the platform Of the League issued hy the Otago branch. The planks were as follows: (1) That the League be strictly political, non-party, and therefore "with no political objective; (2) that the League endeavor to secure adequate pay, pensions, and allowances for all soldiers and their dependents, the present allowances to dependents and pensions being pitifully inadequate; (3) that the League endeavor to help the Government to carry ou,t the provisions of the Defence Act and tho Military Service Act, meaning that the League will act loyally to home and country, and that it will cooperate with the Government as far as possible in the matter of anything affecting the welfare of soldiers and dependents; and (4) that similar Leagues be organised throughout New Zealand, the important point being that they must have the people behind them, and with that object branches should he organised throughout the length and "breadth of New Zealand.

Having thus explained the position, the chairman said it was important to get the branch- going at once, and emphasised tho fact that tho main object was to urge that when the Second Division were called up, as no doubt they soon would be, proper provision was made for the dependents. Another point was that of carrying on the businesses of the Second Division men, but that was a matter for consideration after they had formed a league, if it was decided that they should do so. He would suggest that if they decided to form a league some representative men should be on the executive who were not Second Division men, to look after the interests of those who were called Air. James Clarke said he also was of opinion that the Second Division would soon be called up, and they should be prepared for it, prepared to set aside their own interests and businesses for the good of the Empire. No harm could be done in urging that there should be more pay for the soldiers and more adequate provision for their dependents. Personally he would not be a party to any movement in opposition to the Military Service Act, but it should be made clear that when the >Secand Division was called, proper provision should be made for the soldiers and their dependents—in his opinion £3 per week should be tho minimum for a married man who had to go away. It should be remembered that it was the 1 -wives and children left, behind that would suffer most, and it would be unfair to send forth married men to fight for the Empire while their wives and children were left to fight for themselves. He urged the value and ne;essity for immediate combination, and moved that a league be formed in New Plymouth on the same lines as those of the Otago League. Mr. T. C. List seconded the motion, expressing regret that the attendance at the meeting was not larger. He understood that about three-fourths of the men engaged in business in New Plymouth were lia*ble to be called up in the second division. He therefore considered it to be very essential to have a league here as well as in every other town in Taranaki, so that pressure might be brought on the Government in the direction desired. If they did not look after their own interests the Government certainly wouldn't. They must all realise that this war was a life and death business, and they had to do their best to win and they must be prepared to do their bit. The allowances for dependents were decidedly on the low side. Those who were left should have provision made for them, and should not have to rely on charity. The main object of the League should be to secure just treatment for the wives and children. After referring to the exemptions granted in various departments of the public service and comparing these exemptions unfavorably with the sacrifices of the other section of the community, "the speaker said the league would justify its existence if it insisted upon all first division men being called up first,, and "that adequate provision should bY made for the dependents of married men before they were called upon for service. He hoped a strong league would be formed and tliat the next meeting would be better attended.

■Mr. J. McLeod favored postponing further action, after it had been decided to form a league, until another meeting, when there would probably be a larger attendance and matters could be fully gone into. There was no doubt, he thought, but that the second division would be called up, and what they wanted was a higher rate of pay and adequate provision for their dependents. They could accomplish more by forming a strong league than by any individual action. He thought the pay and allowances should be at least 10s per day; where the Government were .going to find the money was their business. As to the appointment of officers, that was a matter that could be left to the next meeting. . . The motion 1 was then put and carried unanimously. Tho subscription fee wan fixed at 2s - 6d, and the following gentle' men were" appointed a provisional committee to make preliminary arrangements for enrolling members and holdin" another meeting on Thursday evening next:—Messrs J. S. S. Medley (convener), T. C. List, J. McLeod, V. Duff, T. Downes, J. Clarke, and A. C. Rae. In answer to a question the chairman said anyone desiring to become a member, including members of the First Division, would be,eligible, and lady members would be specially welcomed.