SECOND DIVISION LEAGUE.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 September 1917, Page 4

SECOND DIVISION LEAGUE.

ADDRESS BY THE PRESIDENT. Li the Good Templar Hail last night Mr. K. A. Armstrong, of Wellington, president of the Second Division League of New Zealand, delivered an address on the aims, objects and work of that Organisation. There was a good attendance, including a number of ladies, presided over by the Mayor (Mr. 0. H. Burgess). Mr. Armstrong stated that,the league now had branches in practically f-very city, town and township in the Dominion. The necessity for forming the league had been brought about by the Second Division men realising that while they owed a duty to 'the State, they owed a still greater duty to their wives, children, or other dependents. They sought in no way to evade their responsibilities, but were only endeavoring to insure that when they were called upon to go to the front they would do so in the confident assurance that their dependents, as well as the dependents of all the First Division soldiers, were adequately provided for. Tbey wanted to make it absolutely clear'that they wore not shirkers, but were prepared to do their duty to- Uie State, if the State would do its, duty to them. Mr. Armstrong then proceeded to detail the demands of the league, and the steps taken to obtain compliance therewith, giving particulars of the doings of the conference in Wellington, the deputation to members of Parliament, and the Prime Minister, and the promises made, but there was now reason to be doubtful, for reasons which he detailed, as to whether these promises would bo kept, and it now behoved every member of the league and every sympathiser to exercise all the energy he possibly could to see that the legislative measures they desired were embodied in legislation passed this session. He explained in detail the league's demands. He compared the British and New Zealand schemes of pensions and allowances, and dealt with the proposal to call up youths of 19. the, slackness of the Government in dealing with shirkers, the mobilisation of the medical profession, the question of pensions for disabled soldiers, and concluded with an earnest appeal for immediate and energetic action towards securing the objects of the league. The speaker was applauded frequently during his address, and loudly at its eloquent close. After a number of questions had been asked and answered, a hearty vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Armstrong, on the motion of Mr. W. H. Fitzpatrick and Mr. F. J. Lyons, president and secretary of the Taranaki Workers' Council. A fuller report of the meeting will appear in Monday's issue.