THE SECOND DIVISION.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 July 1917, Page 6

THE SECOND DIVISION.

To the Editor. Sir, —Our first division is about run out, and the time is drawing nigh for the Second Division to get ready. Now tile fftn begins. Already they have started a Second Division League, so that some of our very patriotic folk can leave their wives well provided for. It sounds all right, J)ut why the cry that women can't live with the allowances? A woman with one child, if her husband chooses, he can allot her 4s a day of his pay, and then she gets Is a day and child 9d a day. That makes 5s 9d a day. We know the cost of living keeps going up and house rents are also a bit high, but why stick to the towns? Can't a woman put her shoulder to the wheel and work like they are doing in (France and England? The call now is for men. Surely 'New Zealand women will show what they can do. Not many miles from Urenui we have a woman milking her seven or eight cows, all the last season; she keeps her small .place going, feeds her pigs and poultry, and tries 'hej best to produce, asi much as she can off of her few acres while hubby is at the front. She is doing what hundreds of women can do if they choose. No doubt there "are others, too. In TJruti there is a family with all their sons or. active service. Who does the milking? my, the girls, and plucky ones too! They milk, etc., and dad goes to the factory. A woman with one child should find some thing to do, and not expect to live in God's own" country doing nothing. A woman with no children can do so, too, Of course, tho more children she lias the more pay, and in war time people should live on less. What about our iboys who have gone and given up all to go? Should •they call in vain for help? No'; not if women have to don the trousers and go. None of us like to see our meii going, but our 'boys and men who have gone willingly didn't ask for more, but at their country's call they went. Shirking .things did not enter their heads. Hundreds left their farms to neighbors, and some sold theirs for what they could get, and left for King and country. It's time New- Zealand women woke up. We have women working day and night at patriotic causes. Good' luck to them, but how many, are studying-, the latest hat or dress "or "high ton boots, etc.? These, of course; will want v more pay, but some of ! our.'ifarni women haw to be content witilV'the thoughts of extra tax to (be able to pay the extra.—l am, etc., * WOMAN.

[The name ''Second Division League" is rather inapt, its object capable of being misconstrued as our correspondenthas misconstrued them, when they are really the protection of, the interests of all soldiers, First and Second Division alike, and their dependents. It is wrong therefore, to conclude that the Second Division reservists in organising are actuated by selfish motives. Our correspondent's observation regarding women taking a greater share in the work of the country, is to the point. The only ■trouble is that the Government expects hut the one section to turn to, leaving the vast majority to pursue the even tenor of their ways. The League stands for universal service and equality of sacrifice, as against sectional service and I sacrifice, putting everyone, as f;ir as possible, on the same footing. So far the Government has done nothing to organise the country on the lines of. Britain or France, and shows no disposition to, and is quarrelling with the Efficiency ! Board for having made the attempt. —ay. ■ ■