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Taranaki Daily News, 5 June 1917, Page 4

THE SECOND DIVISION. There is a feeling amongst some members of the Second Division that the Second Division League, branches of which are being established throughout the country, has been started to assist the Government in calling up the Second Division as soon as possible. Whilst the 'League proposes to co-operate with the Government in its measures for winning the war, it is clear, from its published platform, that the League's main object is to obtain better conditions for dependents than are now provided. For that reason alone the League should have the cordial support of every man in the Second Division. At the meeting held in New Plymouth on Saturday night it was remarked that both in the case of the allowance and the pension for a wife and family the minimum should be 10s a day, and "be granted as a right and not at the caprice of a parsimonious Pensions Board. This represents roughly a 23 per cent, increase upon tho present rate. ft may be argued that the Dominion Is in no position to carry the extra load. The answer is that if the country requires the services of men with wives and families to go and fight it should sec that their dependents are properly provided for. It is unreasonable to ask a man to leave his wife and children in want, which certainly would be the case in tho majority of instances if the present rates were maintained. He would be making quite sufficient sacrifice in giving up his business or position and risking his life in tho protection of his country without having to leave his dependents in a state of penury. The fact that New Zealand is treating its soldiers in the matter of pay and allowances better than are other countries is no reason why New Zealand should not see that its defenders are given consideration in this important respect to the fullest extent of its ability. It is the Jeast the country can do for those of its married men who go to the front. In these times men should either fight, work, or pay. There is conscription to fight and power by way of taxation to enforce the pay part of it, but there is no conscription of the great body of men, physically unfit for active service Dr above the age limit, to work to help in winning the war. We should aim at an equality of sacrifice, but there is nothing of that in New Zealand to-day. Britain realised when it brought in conscription that one section of the public should not be asked to fight whilst other sections were left to go their own Bweet way without raising their hands to help the nation to win the war, so the country saw that all did their "bit" at home as well as in the fighting fronts. In this Dominion the Government has pursued a policy of masterly inactivity, of "sufficient unto tho day." The reinforcements had to be kept up, and anything else could go hang. But the time has arrived when the Government will be asked very pointedly what it is going to do about equalising the burdens and sacrifices. It will be asked to grant greater allowances to dependents of men at tho front; it will be asked to enforce national service on tho part of those exempt from military duties; and it will be asked to sec that no one section shall benefit financially from the sacrifices or by the absence of the men at the front, In this connection the Second Division, linked together, will make its voice felt, and no Government, oven a National Government accustomed to (lout tho public, can fail to pay li.-ed. The Second Division Bcservists are individually quite as patriotic as the members of the First Division, and ready to take their place when their time for service comes; but necessarily with their responsibilities to consider their patriotism must begin at home, and the inequalities and disabilities mentioned must be removed by the Government before they can properly be asked to give up their positions and businesses and their homes.