SECOND DIVISION LEAGUE.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 July 1918, Page 4

SECOND DIVISION LEAGUE.

SIIMbTKR AMD THE LEAGUE'S I2FFORTS. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. Referring to the Wellington branch of the Second Division League'* annual report, Sir James Allea said: "My attention lias been drawn to a statement, by the Second Division League, in its first annual report, of coucessibna and. benefits which have been granted to soldiers jjfnd their dependents. The purpose •<>{ the publication is evidently to give an impression to the public that the whole of these concessions and benefits are solely due to the persistent agitation and' pressure of the Second Division League. The method adopted by the league lias been staple. The executive appqpr 8 to have taken the original conditions with respect to soldiers and their dependents, and compared them with those now in existence, and has assumed that the difference is entirely due to the work of the league. This assumption is altogether erroneous. Members of Parliament (individually and collectively), Ministers of the Crown (individually and collectively), the press, tho War Relief Associations (individually and collectively), the Returned Soldiers' Association, the National Efficiency Board, the administrative heads 0? the Defence Department, and a large army of patriotic citizens throughout the Dominion, who are continually suggesting improvements for the benefit of our soldiers and_ their dependents. While I have no desire to discount the actual work that ha 9 been by the league, I think it ia necessary to point out that it has not a monopoly of initiative in these matters, nor a monopoly of good-will fowarda soldiers and tH't dependents."