SECOND DIVISION LEAGUE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3013, 26 February 1917, Page 9

SECOND DIVISION LEAGUE

'(Sir,—By reference to the "Otago jDaily Tunes" and tlie "Evening Star," in their issues of Monday j February 19, and Tuesday, February 20, it will be , seen that the enthusiastic public meeting, at which His Worship the Mayor presided, started the. Second Division: League off on a firm basis, and as we are receiving numerous inquiries from different centres where they wish to form similar leagues we would fool much obligcd if you could publish this letter, the. object of which is to obtain unity of action throughout New Zealand by getting other leagues to work in harmony with us. The four planks of the league's platform are as follow, and are given in order of precedence:— (1) The league to be strictly nonpohtical. • ~ (2) The league to endeavour to secure adequate (pay), pensions and allowances for all soldiers and their dependants. (3) The league'to endeavour to help the Government to carry out the provisions of the Defence Act' and the Military Service Act. (4) The lea2ue_to organise similar leagues throughout New Zealand. In laying down the above platform ■we were guided liy the fact that this •war has placed a most difficult task in front of our administrators, 1 and we have no desire to embarrass them in any way. In fact, our feeling is strongly oile of co-operation in pushing this war to a logical conclusion, aqd in support of this it has been freely expressed in Dunedin that married men would be prepared to go for Is. 6d. or 2s. per, day, as long as their wives and ■dependants were adequately protected, . which sentiment clearly shows where the great difficulty lies with regard'to married men. - The chief feeling underlying the league's platform, therefore, is that we want to see our dependants properly provided for, so that we may answer our country's call with an easy mind. With a view to securing unity of effort, we- would 'therefore impress upon all newly formed leagues' the' desirability of adopting onr platform as here laid down. _■■ ■ 1 ■We thuß start off • with a "Unity of purpose based on brr,a:l «nd. reasonable • .lines, and any alterations; subsequently found to be necessary could be adopted bv all'leagues. - ,; The membership. fee 1 of the Otago League is Is. per head, the commit■tee having the power to increase this to 2s;-6d.'per head if found necessary, .and; subscriptions and- donations are ■coming in freely, from all parts -of Otago. . . _As soon as possible a draft schedule of the proposed aliovances and penisions: will-be formulated and this' will have to be carefully discussed with: affiliated leagues before final approval. / Ways and means of this will be disr cussed later.. In we would like to see every,'paper in the country insert this letter and help in jthe formation of local Second Division Leagues on -the above lines.". : . Inquiries should ba addressed to our provisional secretary, MrJ O.F. Scott, 238 Cumberland Street, Dunedin, or to the writer. .

r I-also point out that our sclieme embraces, tho interests of . not only second division leaeuß man, hut of all soldiers, so that anybody may booome a member.—l am, .etc., H. H. PATTLB, Provisional Chairman, Otago 'Rsoond Division League, . O/o Bray 8r05.,. Dunedin. - Duncdm, February 22.