DEFENCE MINISTER'S REPLY.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 May 1918, Page 5

DEFENCE MINISTER'S REPLY.

TO SECOND DOTSION CEAIM»> , By; Talegraph .—Press- Ssscmtlcffi,''' Wellington, Last 1 i The Minister of Defence, in tha mltfui •' of a statement giving Cabinet's dedrfffli on the demand? of the Second Drvfcriou -League, says the present-separation allowances are to stand. T6e GoveimMttt will give sympathetic consideration to improvements in the repatriation scbute, particularly in respect to the retoxatd soldier who, on discharge, cannot be placed in stiitable employment. It ffl*y take some time to evolve a satisfactory scheme, bnt every effort wiflbe tntuio to 1 remove any fear a soldier may have tittt , 1 on discharge he will not he in a position to provide for himself, wife-and deMßfl w : ents.

Provision has been made to pay sepa- , ration allowance to dependents bing v relatives of a soldier (other tiuui trite, widowed mother and children) equivalent ■' to the amoimt the soldier provided dttr- \ ing the twelve months prior to ids «tt» listment, with a maximum o£,-lQte»6(l,' per week. ; •' Regarding tie grants. madefy tittS}' nancial Assistance Board, the fiolSSSs''' policy is to meet recurring obligattKa : .* s so that a minimum net income of £9O ■ ? be left to a wife after rent, etc, haslntn 1 ;i provided for. The £9O is to ntnitfl, but the Minister points out it is a miniaqsn ';Jt only, and for a wife without chitfffn J the Government has definitely deddWL, that a wife's earnings shall not be tafctnj s into consideration when considering this I minimum, became it wMies tosneodaagD •* wives of soldiers to take np • ■» during their husbands' absence- most* , F vice. 3 The question of pay and. being affected by the misconduct i soldier is to receive further consSdeca^gfcRegardtogCl men, the Minister j present the CI reservist of the fiaedsA Division is treated as a fit pun, and given three months between madieal ex* .. amination and being called to camp, bat the requests made are receiving consideration, and the league will be forther communicated with on tbt ■' at an early date. The Minister regrets that the reqoMt j regarding the age limit for children for '* pension be 18 years for male and'2l fpr female cannot be agreed to, bat (afyrts out that the pension payable.to & female & ' child may, if the board thinks fit, be ■" continued until the age of 17 is readud, and the pension payable to any child suffering from any mental or bodily infirmity may be continued for auoh period ; y as the board thinks fit. , ■ ; 3 The league's proposals regydufg the J protection of businesses of resekyfatji h#s . been submitted to the National Emdee- ' ( cy Board, and the question will be again discussed with the board at next-meet- - ing.