THE SECOND DIVISION

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 24, 23 October 1917, Page 6

THE SECOND DIVISION

Sir,—As a father of four, a poor uiun, and one who responded to the call for soidiers at tho commencement of this "; ir ar '4 served at tho front at tho time that things were at the worst, permit me to comment on the preseut state of ufiairs. J'irst, I am eoniident that, in a nation that breeds such heroes, there can bo fo'.v members of tho Second Divi--6'OIJ suffering from impeded circulation i, ,i ■ cr oxt remities. Tho cause of all this unrest and complaint is chiefly due to the fact that for over three years our gallant lads have successfully held back the hordes of the aggressor, which same tinio has been pleasantly and profitably spent by those who are now called upon to go. This is not meant in sarcasm, but this fact requires io bo established if the Second Division is to escape censure from all who realise the Homeric struggles and self-sacriiices of those who went, and who find it difficult to think that cold feet or utter selfishness play a part in the nauseating demands from those who have basked in the sun of ease and comparative luxury while their comrades held back the 'ne by heroic self-s.icrifice never surpassed, and who did not wait until they had extracted tho last possible shilling for their dependants.

Let us now look at the question from another point of view, Tho least those who were left when the Main Body and their reinforcements went away could do was to fight i'or the interests of their dependants, considering that the former owed their safety, comfort, and prosperity to the volunteers, ninny of whose jobs they were filling. Did the present members of the Second Division fight with tho same determination during the three years of war, in which the profits of civil labour hava been enormous? I fought beside a soldier who iiad eight small children at home. Were his.interests looked after with lhe\ same degree of determination as is in existence now? And yet who is most entitled to such [ help: the man who "chucked his job and joined it" at the comii..:nce - nent, or the man who stayed to enjoy fhree years of prosperity almost beyond the dreams of avarice? The whole fact of the matter is this: We,have become too sure of victory. The majority of those still lpft are as good sportsmei as those who went. But, whereas the latter knew that there was little between the Empire and defeat, ihe former have been lulled into a false state of security ;nd ccriaiuty of victory by the comfortable conditions of the last three years and the strangle-hold we now liavo ever the enemy. Pew realise that it is not beyond the power of possibility for the tables still to be- turned and for a German foe to still sail into our harbours. Does ihe Russian situation show weakness in our powerful foe? Is it possible that Germany, in which every man luid woman "pulls his or her full weight," to win the war, is going to be defeated until every man, and most of ou.r women also, "pull their weight" on the rope of victory? Not only are a great number on our side not pulling, many are actually impeding those who are. How could we expect the captain of a big liner to bring his ship into a port through myriads of mines, jagged rocks, and other shipping if ho is persistently worried and provoked by inane and thoughtless questioning, at what time certain others are stealthily dropping carborundum into the bearings'of his engines? We do not deservo to win until alkthese sort of things stop. Tho ignorant howl for Defence economy while suffering gladly race meetings, picture palaces, shows and a thousand other utterly unessential things to continue. For the sake of those who have made the supreme sacrifice let those who want to fight anything fght the eneinv, and let those fortunate enough ; o be out of that Hell concentrated their every effort upon winning the war. A few- days' delay in military jffairs may mean little to tho civilian, but it prooably means the loss of previous life to those out there. Let us all help instead of hindering, and he prepared to sacrifice everything except those essentials which serve to successfully end this terrible Wal i I LOVER tt OF FREEDOM AND JUSTICE.

Sir, -May I add my growing scorn of the men. of the Second Division to that of "Returned Soldier"? It w money, money, all the time, never a thought ot relieving the boy 3 are , S ni P" ly for us—and the Second Division m France and other war centres, Oh, no! It is tlio money. It is such a pimple matter to demand an adequato allowance for wife and children .when it is not coming out of ones own pocket. For example, we, may take a man (second Division) with four children. From his pay he mav allot his wife 2os. (retaining 10s. for his personal needs and pleasures); the wife draws .£1 Is., and tho fonv children £1 Bs.: total, £3 lis. to keep a wife and four children, and, it necessary, financial aid may be added. Against this we may place the rank and file of the Civil Service-men drawing salaries of .£2OO and less. When suis deducted from these salaries it leaves the heads of famines struggling along on sums varying from ,£3 to JC3 10s. per week, and no "financial assistance" in these cases, and no "keep and clothes" for the father, and no 10 S . per week for his "personal'needs and pleasuresand in- some cases it is uvo years since these fathers have h a< l a rise in salary, in spite of the steaduyincreasing cost of living. Certainly, the bifcterly-discussud war „ bonus-received for one year of war, and still expected this year—has been a help; though, in all probability, the Sccond Division would have, scorned a rise of 10d. per how many of the Second Division could allow their wives and children i£3 14s. per week beyond their own keep out of a salary of c£3 or Yet, sir, there are thousands of families struggling along on these sums, and the rent is not paid for them either; yet in this morning's Dominion I read that the war bonus to Civil Servants vote is likely to be held up, because some members arc convinced that it is not necessarv! Sir, I know of families who are depending on that -£15 (lOd. per day) for notual necessities. Perhaps some membet's may not believe this; but if -S3 14swill barely support a wife and four children, how far will $3 or d£3 lfls. support a father, mother, and family—and no rent paid ? And from this we may pass to men of the home service branchy to men, many of whom have never ieft New Zealand, and never likely to. Take, for instance, a sergeant-clerk and four children. A sergeant-cleric—merely a "casual" clerk -at 10s. per day until a recent re-classification —7s. per day pay; 4s. per dav mess allowance; 3s. wife; 4s. for four children; seven days per week; and the father is clad by the Department. Total: £6 6s. per week, .-.no then whispers are abroad about financial assistance"! This is for ordinary clerking work. Nothing expert about it, not even typing and shorthand; but skilled Civil Servants of years standing draw .£3 and ,£!) 10s. per week, and Uieir war bonus of lOd. per day is unnecessary in the opinion of some members. "Irnlyi it seems to me a fair cause for the bittei discontent that is growing, Tho cost of living affects all people, not only the families of tho Second Diusion and the homo service, but the poorly paid Civil Servant, too; but there is no "financial assistance" for him, in spite of families and invalid c hi!dren. Trusting, sir, that you may givo this letter insertion,—l am, etc., jjimTJ [Our correspondent, like others, eonfuses the Second Division with tho Second Division League. It is the league, which represents only a part or the second Division, that has been agitating for larger allowances, not the Second Di\ision as a whole.!