SECOND DIVISION

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3188, 12 September 1917, Page 8

SECOND DIVISION

PENSIONS AND ALLOWANCES AND PRE-BALLOT EXAMINATION QUESTIONS IN THE HOUSE A series of questions about the Second Division, and more • especially about the Second Division League, were asked in the House of Representatives yesterday. Dr. Thacker asked the Minister of Defence whether the legislation concerning Second Division men and their dependants would be put beforo tho House and. discussed before the first ballot of Division men was taken, and whether tko medical examination of Second .Division men would be made before the lii'ot ballot of tho Second Division took place. Sir James Allen said that he could not look forward to tlio future, but it tho House would do its work witlmi a reasonable time he hoped to have dealing with pensions before tlio House within the next fortnight. If the House wished to put the Bill through, tho lul could be through next week, it had been intended tEat a ballot ot becoiid Division should be held early in c '-| but it was found now that this would not bo possible,' and it would not be possible to take a ballot ot the second Division until the end of October, or perhaps later. He was not prepared that diiy to make atiy detiuitc statement'about tli© Second Division. He Jia<l said previously that the first draft of the Second Division might have to go into camp m January. That statement he might have to modify. . ■ . . , An lion. member: Wil} it be :ater. Sir James Allen said that it was tound to be impossible under the law to hold medical examinations of the Second IJmeion before. the ballot, but the ballotwas being put forward to allow the men more time between the ballot and. the time of going into camp. _ Mr. Poland said that members of, tho House had been iuvited to mcot the executive of the-Second Division that evening. He asked whether the Minister could not bring down his 'Bill earlier in order to end the continuous.agitation' legarding pre-ballot medical examination and matters. : Sir James Allen said that any member of the Second Division Leagae could medically examined by volunteering lor service. The Defence authorities could not medically examine a man without attesting him or drawing him in the ballot. Ho hoped that next week the Pensions Bill would be before tlio House for consideration. Mr. Parr asked the Minister whether iu view of tho fact that it would not be possible to conduct medical examination before the ballot, . lie would niako arrangements, for the immediate or early examination of Second Division men after the ballot. If-this were not done men would not have tims, to straighten out their business affairs, and the object ox the early ballot would be frustrated. Sir James Allen said that he w'as making the best arrangements in his power to expedite medical oxainiuation . Ihe Defence Department had applied to the British Medical Association for twenty medical men to form new medical boards, but oven without these additional men he thought they would be ready by tho end of October to cope with it. Ho was most anxious not to defeat the object of the early ballot'by delaying medical examination. -. , Replying to a question by Mr. Walker, the Minister said that it would not tie necessary to submit to the • House. the proposals for increased allowances to dependants of men on service. Ihe House would have to deal with pensions, but tli© allowances could be dealt with by regulation. He proposed when bringing down tho Pensions Bill to make a statement with regard to allowances for .tne information, of members of the .House..• Mr; Payne asked whether the law could ' not be amended to permit of the metlica examination of' Second Division men before the ballot. He urged that this, pieballot examination was of tho importance to save men from heavy busier Barnes Allen said that as there could'bo no ballot until .the end of October the question was not £[Bcnt H did not think it was advisable to■ altei tho law. If a man . was medically examined before being attested lie w°"M not bo a Boldier, and the Defence authorities would have no hold over him.