THE SECOND DIVISION

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 23, 22 October 1917, Page 6

THE SECOND DIVISION

(To the Editor.) Sir,—l have followed with great interest and growing scorn'- the 'ormation and development of the Second Division Leagues, and have finally come to the conclusion that some of them at least are suffering from that well-known complaint called "cold feet." When Hie Main Body left New Zealand many married men with families (myself among the number) sailed with it, leaving their wives and familes to get along on a little less than half the allowance which has now been grantsd. At that time the members of the Second Division were loud in their shouts and cheers for tho men who were going to fight for them and theirs, and professed themselves ready to do the juinping-ofi: *rick directly their turn came. It (hen- appeared unlikely that the whole of the single men and volunteers would bo required. When conecription came in Ihey still maintained their willingness to go "when the First Division was exhausted." But here comes the rub: "We must have adequate provision for our dependants." This can be interpreted in so many different ways. For instance, my eldest son and I'left Now Zealand together. I being a member of the N.Z.P.5!., was ordered away. My eon volunteered. I left my wife and three children Ps. per day, reserving Is. 6d. per day for myself. I received no separation or children's allowance at that time. My son left his wife and two children fa. per day,, Is. eeparntion nnd Is. children's allowance, making 6s. per day in all. They both did very well on these sums; in fact, my wife had saved a little over ,£3O out of her allotment when I returned invalided in 18 months; whilet I found that the Is. 6d. per day was ample for my needs—in fact I saved a few pounds out of it in a corresponding time. Another man or woman (take our friend Mr. Payne) thinks that a guinea i a week-is quite impossible iis a separation allowance (though this is just three times tho amount granted to men of the Main Body), and that Iβ. per day for a child (twice the Main Body amount) is pauperising our dependants, llr. Hindmarsh, I think it was, said in the House that 13. 6d. per clay was not enough to buy extra tucker with. I eay, and know, that the man who can eat the New Zealand ration and wants more is a glutton, and has no business in the Army.. He should be in a show as a freak. Iβ the hon. gentleman aware that the ration for ono man pev day (New Zealand scale) weighs 71b., within an ounce, and consists of good solid food? At one recent meeting of the Wellington League a resolution was passed to ask the Minister in what special points the Second Division are not playing the game. I say in every point. Here are a few, according to my idea:—(l) Haggling over a few shillings when the country is in danger. (2} Wishing and trying to get three times the allowances ■ranted to men who went willingly, (d) Embarrassing the Government at a time of national danger. (4) Striving to evade service bv making demands which are likely to cripple the country. (5) Wishing to elect their own oflicors, and 1 emnpose when they do get to the fiont they will want to dictate to the G.O.C. when, where, and how they shall attack. Tn "fact, from what I can read of their demand's they would like t<. be, on » par with the Russian Soldiers' and Workmen's Councils, and I am simi «l»»ed to have their way the result both to themselves ami the country will lie the Same - diEaStCr -i T a »-SOLDIER.