WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 May 1918, Page 6

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

THE SECOND DIVISION. PAY AND ALLOWANCES, (Special Correspondent.) Wellington, May Delegates from' the various branches of the Second Division League are meeting in conference in Wellington to-day for the purpose of further considernij the attiude of the Government towards the League's demand that the wife's separation allowance shall bo increased from 3s a day to Gs. The delegates, as well as the rank and file of the League, have taken pains to emphasise their desire to do their duty in the present crisis and the only difference between them and the Government is over the provision that should be made for the soldiers' dependents. This is a question which obviously admits nt' a good deal of argument and of many differences of opinion, but the general feeling here is that while the League has done a large amount of very excellent work iu the interests of both the First aild the Second Reservists it is disposed to press its present demand a little too far.

WHAT IS PAID. The existing provision for dependents, estimating the relief given to the family's finances by its head obtaining tiis food, clothing, medical attendance and so forth free of cost at 20s a week, certainly is not very inadequate compared with the average husband's civilian earnings. The private without wife or children, adding his cost to the State to his pay of Ss a day, receives £2 15s a week; with wife only, £Z Mis. with wife and one child, £4 Gs 6d; with wife and two children, £4 17s; with wife and three children, £5 7s Gd; with wife and four children, £5 16s; with wife and five children, £<i Ss, and so on, increasing ai the rate of 10s 6d fcr each child. In addition to these payments, which are subject to 110 deductions, the Financial .Assistance Board may give help to the extent of £3 a week iu respect to rent, insurance and similar demands.

THE GOVERNMENT'S VIEWS. The Minister of Defence and his colieageus do not contend that they are adequately compensating the wife for the temporary loss of her husband or the children for the temporary loss of their father. The exigencies of war make personal sacrifices inevitable. Mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers have made them in respect to members of the First Division without monetary compensation of any kind. But apart from the personal loss, which cannot be covered by money, whatever the amount, the wife of the average wage earner, assuming her hus- j band allots her 3s a day of his own pay, is substantially better off when her husband is in camp or at the war than she is when he is at home. The average earnings of the worker are about £3 a week in civilian employment, while as a I soldier with a wife and two children he and his dependents receive £3 17s in money and he can easily spare £3 5s or £3 10b for the maintenance of his family.. iOOK'I'H-BR CONCESSIONSThis may seem-a hard matter of fact view of the position, bringing little consolation to the wife left with children to care for without the assistance of her help-mate, and the existence of numbers of patriotic organisations anxious _to help the wives and children of soldiers does not meet all the needs of the situation. Ministers admit as much as "Khis and they are talking, not very definitely it must (be confessed, of further provision being made for the families of men who are fighting the battles of the Kmpire- The homes aire to be kept together, the children are not to suffer in education or in opportunity, and the Financial Assistance Board is to open it 3 heart and its hands a little wider. Were these fair promises put into concrete shape, so than the country might feel assured of its obligations being discharged to the fullest extent of its ability even the Second Division League might cease from troubling and be at work. 111 the meantime it is satisfactory to have the members of the League re-affirming their determination to do their duty in anus as well aa in council.