THE SECOND DIVISION

Taranaki Daily News, 22 September 1917, Page 4

THE SECOND DIVISION

MEDICAL EXAMINATION QUESTIONS TO BE CONBCRI'PTRO INCREASES 'TOR MARRIED MEN; By Wire.—Our Parliamentary Wellington, Last Night. Some statements regarding, the Sgconi Division were made hi the House t<M day by Ministers in reply to questions* Mr. Parr (Eden) raised again the de< mand for the medical examination of tha Second Division men before the He quoted cases of business men whci were in a position of uncertainty because they did not know ■whether or not they would foe accepted, and so could ,no< make arrangements. Sir Jas. Allen said it was a queitloxt of securing more medical officers to conduct the examinations. He had applied to the British Medical Association foi twenty additional doctors, a,nd it Wsi evident that legislation would have to be put through to enable dootorg to ty conscripted. A Bill w;is being prepared} Men who had obvious defects could W sure they would be rejected, and tkej could consult their own doctors. / Mr. Parr: No use. at all. It Unoi ' even a guide. Sir Jas. I dofo't see how wj can do more than we done. Mr. Parr: Mobilise them. Answering Rnother question, Sir Ja», Allen said that any increases in the al< lowances and pensions 'wfluld apply to all members of the fortes. There was n<j intention to give special treatment tq the Second Division men, but tbe, in. creases would not be 3*eti*oßpectiy& They would operate froma date to IX feed.

Mr. Poland urged that if the medl' cal examination could not be bet fore the ballot, then the Second Divisloij men should bo allowed three months bji tween the examination and to settle their affairs, since the examine tion was the test of whether a """ hod to go into camp or nQt, The Minister replied that he must W guided by circumstances and. poasibili< ties. He had already promised the mai< ried men three months between the bait lot and mobilisation, and he would I>J glad to go further if he could.

UNSATISFACTORY MINISTERIAL (REPLIES. DOMINION CONFERENCE CONVENER By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Bast Night. The Central Executive of the Fed*' ated Second Division Leagues has te> solved: That in view of the absolutely unsatisfactory nature of Ministerial replies to questions put in tie House af< fecting the proposals of the Second Divi< sion League, the central executive ol the National Federation- is reluctantly compelled to follow the Only course left open, and immediately to eonvene a Do< minion conference of leagues. The conference has been fixed for Thursday, next. In out advertising columns, Mr. McLeod, Taranaki representative on the Dominion advisory council of the* Second Division League, requests the various branches in Taranaki to forthwith ar» rwige to send delegates to Wellington to attend Thursday's conference. A special meeting of the New Plymouth branch is convened for Monday evening. The Inglewood league proposed to form branches at Egmont Village, Kaimata, Waitui and Durham Road. Rahotu roservists are shortly meeting to form a "branch there.