AID TO SOLDIERS

Evening Post, Volume XCV, Issue 44, 20 February 1918, Page 8

AID TO SOLDIERS

MINISTER'S REPLY TO CRITICISM

Asked by a Post representative to-day whether he had anything to say respecting the criticism passed upon the administration Tof the soldiers' financial assistance regulations at the Second Division League meeting last evening, the Minister of Defence (the Hon. Sir James Allen) said he would like to remind the public- that there were always two sides to a case, and until he was able to present the Financial Assistance Board's side, he asked that judgment be suspended. That was only fair.' He would give his reply as soon as he was able ; but, to enable him to do so, he must first request the assistance of the Second Division League. The board to date had considered 7486 applications, and, without the names being given, it was obviously impossible for him to answer the cases quoted, particuarly as each application was decided on its own particular merits. In the cases cited, ho was fairly confident that the full facts had not been disclosed, because the decisions as reported were not in accord with thu general policy of the board. If tho Second Division League would kindly supply him with the names, he would be glad to make investigation and present the full facts to the public. If the league rendered such assistance, lie would, of course, see to it that the names given were not publicly divulged, and would guarantee that the gratuitants would suffer in no way whatever. "In the meantime," added the Minister, "I ask the public to suspend judgment." A full report of the Second Division League's meeting last evening is given on page 7 of this issue.