THE SECOND DIVISION.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 October 1917, Page 5

THE SECOND DIVISION.

INADEQUATE ALLOWANCES. The executive of t'he Second Division League held an emergency meeting on Wednesday, when the decision of Parliament in regard to separation allowances for the wives, children, and other dependents of soldiers was discussed. Mr. R. A. Armstrong, president, was in the chair. The executive expressed their ' great disappointment at the failure of members of Parliament to induce the 1 Government to reconsider the inadequate proposals brought down. Those present referred to the fact that the members of the Second Division Lcagne from the outset, on behalf of the married men, had expressed their willingness for service, their support to the Military Service Act, and their desire to see New Zealand's part in the war carried on in a full and efficient manner. All they asked was that the principle of equality of sacrifice should be applied to the whole com- ; munity to whatever extent was neces- , sarv in order to provide adequately for i the wives, children, and other depend- ■ ents of soldiers. It was generally conl sidered that the public of Wellington > should be given an opportunity of de* i monstrating at a public meeting whether - Hit soldiers and their dependents should • bear the whole brunt of the sacrifices en- ; tailed by the war, or whether those who i remained beihind vFtre prepared to take 1 their share of tha burden and •see jus- • tics done. It was resolved that the * Leagu« convene a publie meeting, to be * he\4 at tins King's Theatre on Sunday ■ evening nest, and tUat the Wellington * niembers of Parliament be invited to address same In addition to the speakers ? appointed the League. Referring to statements made by the J Prime Minister and the Minister for Finance to the effect that the league "was not playing the game," it was resolved to reply to same at the public ! meeting, and that in .the meantime the 1 Ministers be written to and asked to 7 state in detail in what manner tho • Second Division Loague "had not played the sram#"