THE SECOND DIVISION.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 May 1918, Page 4

THE SECOND DIVISION.

QUESTION OF REPATRIATION'. 13y Telegraph. —Press Association. Wellington, May 23At the conference of the Second Division League, the committee appointed to draw up a report on the repatriation problem recommended that the Government adopt tiio principle of extending State responsibility to all soldiers and their dependents from discharge or demobilisation until their full remobilisation in civil life, such State responsibility to take the form of the continuance of pay, allowances and financial assistance as paid to the soldier and his dependents during active service, the minimum period of responsibility to be not less lb an three months, to be extended where necessary on the recommendations of special local boards to hf set up under a Department of Repatriation. The debate was adjourned until thi* afternoon. DEPUTATION TO MINISTER. Wellington, May 23. In replying to a deputation from the. Second Division League to-day, the Minister of Defence, referring to the proposed extra separation allowance for a wife, said it would be better to use the money for repatriation purposes. He held out no hope that the extra separation allowance for a wife would be granted. All finance questions would be referred to the Cabinet, which would meet as soon as possible. Wellington, Laat NightThe Federated Second Division League's conference adopted the following:—That the practice of allowing employers to appeal for exemption for cmployeees be discontinued. That any reservist of German parentage, who appeals for exemption on the grounds of German sympathies, and is granted such exemption, should bo interned or put. to some work of national importance, on military pay. That in view of the altered conditions of the war, the Government be urged to organise all fit retired men, in order to release fit men of military age for service. That all CI men be given one month after medical examination, to make any temporai;v domestic and business arrangements, lief ore being ordered to parade for the physical training camp. That the reservist be given one month's testing in the physical training camp to test his fitness, and if he be proved unfit, give him his discharge at once, and if the 01 reservist bo proved medically fit after the try-out, he be given two months' leave of absence, so that he may return to his home and make final arrangements for his dependents and the disposing of his business, preparatory to his going into the reinforcements.