THE SECOND DIVISION.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 May 1918, Page 4

THE SECOND DIVISION.

DEFENCE DEPARTMENT'S FIGURES CRITICISED.

NO COMPARISON .POSSIBLE WITH REST OF EMPIRE.

By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. Referring to the figures published by, the Defence Department showing thai; New Zealand leads other parts of the British Empire with regard to pay and allowances of soldiers and dependents, Mr. Armstrong, national president of the Second Division League, stated last night that the other Dominions had not yet reached the problems which New Zealand is now facing. So far as Australia was concerned, it is only necessary to remind the people of New Zealand that even single men in the Commonwealth could please themselves whether they went to the war or not. Canada, apparently, had not made any call yet on her married reservists, as it was only a few days ago that a calble announced the Canadian authorities were only then, about to call up men between 20 aild 23. Canada, therefore, had, apparently, not yet reached the position New Zealand was in 12 months ago. It had to be remembered that in 1917 the New Zealand separation allowance for a wife was 7s n, week, as against Canada's £1 Os lOd. Another recent message from Canada etated that the pay was to 5)8 considerably increased.

It was ridiculous for the New Zealand Defence Department to suggest that the people of Canada would ask a soldier's wife, with five children, to exist on a total allowance of £1 Oa lOd, plus allotment from the husband's pay. So far as Great Britain wfis concerned, the conditions could not ha comparedBritain's civil population was apparently completely organised for war purposes' Her principal industries had either been nationalised or were under State control' for the war period- Profiteering had been effectively dealt with, and, if reports were to !be believed, the whole of I the people were on rations. In Britain, therefore, there was at least some meaauie of equality of sacrifice. It would be time to compare the British soldier's pay with our own when the Government of this country adopted the general war legislation of Britain, and when steps had been taken tjj ensure that the whole sacrifice did not fall alone upon the man who was found medically fit to serve his country. There was 110 reason why New Zealand should not continue to lead, and if by that leadership she assisted in breaking down the precedents and prejudices of I other countries, and induced the prevention of the repetition of the admiiris- : trative mistakes of other wars, the greater would be the credit to the people «ind Government of this country.

KAPONGA. • There was a good attendance of Second Division reservists at Kaponga on Saturday evening, when addresses were given by a New Plymouth delegation on matters affecting reservists. The chairman (Mr. A. H. Guy) explained that a resolution passed by the executive to the effect that the claims of the league in respect of wivea' allowances were unreasonable did not mean that the Kaponga branch was satisfied with the present allowance (3s per day). The executive had been called together hurriedly to deal with the Dominion executive's circular on the matter, and they simply expressed what was their opinion. If the other members of the local branch were dissatisfied with the executive's action it was competent for j them to pass a motion accordingly, but | that, of course, would be tantamount to a vote of no-confidence, and they would ! then have to elect another executive. The Rev. Blair spoke in a similar strain, while Mr. Burt gave the reasons for passing the resolution, though personally he would not regard a vote of the meeting adverse to their views as a vote of no-confidence, for there was room for an honest difference of opinion on the question of the amount of a wife's separation allowance. It was pointed out by various local speakers that they did not desire to pass a vote that would have the effect of losing the services of the executive, which had done such good work in the past, and after considerable discussion a motion was unanimously passed that the local branch had full confidence in the executive.

A motion was then proposed, to the effect that the league support 5s Cd a day. The chairman moved as an amendment that the amount be ss.

Eventually it was decided to give the delegate (Rev. Blair) a free hand at the conference as to the amount of a wife's separation allowance.

Votes of thanks to the New Plymouth and Bltham representatives ended a meeting that was both interesting and instructive, and lasted till after eleveu o'clock.