FOR RESERVISTS

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 13, 15 July 1918, Page 8

FOR RESERVISTS

SECOND DIVISION LEAGUE

RECORD OF A YEAR'S WORK

IMPROVEMENTS MADE,

The first annual report of the Wellington Second Division League sets out the improvements made in conditions of military service since the formation of the league on 27th March, 1917. The league, the report states, was called into existence by the realisation of reservists, of two great duties : (1) Their natural duty to their homes as husbands, fathers, and protectors of their dependents; (2) their duty to the State in the time of Empire peril. As a result of the work of the several conferences of theFederated Leagues the following main principles have been established and concessions secured:—

(1) The adoption of the principle that the State should take full responsibility from the time a reservist enters camp. (2) A definite promise that no reservist shall be sont into camp until twelve weeks clear after the medical examination.

(3) Pensions for disablement to be by schedule with a definite mimium amount for a definite injury. (4) The incapacitated soldier and his dependents to be restored as nearly as possible to their pre-war standard of living. (5) A special allowance of up to £1 per week to cover wages lost through undergoing special medical treatment. (6) Allowance for an • attendant increased from 10a to £1 per week. (7) Special pension to guardian of motherless children.

(8) Pension on dea.th of soldier increased as follows:—

(An additional amount of 15s per week claimable to bring up to pre-war standard of comfclrt.)

(9) Pensions on disablement increased as follows:— ! Soldier on total

(An additional amount of £1 per week claimable to bring up to pre-war standard of comfort.) (10) Separation allowances increased as follows:— ■ .

brother and sister (dependent) — ' 7 ■ (Income embargo on widowed mother relaxed from 7s to 15s per week.) (Property embargo on widowed mother relaxed from £250 to £600.) (11) Financial ■ assistance increased from possible grant of £2 per week to possible grant of £3 per week. With prospect for pre-war standard,being considered.. (12) Wife's personal earnings not to be taSren into account in making grants of financial assistance. • (13) Removal of differentiation between balloted and voluntary recruits in regard to application for financial assistance. . (14) Special maternity grants to ■wives of soldiers through the Financial Assist-' ance Board. (15) Promise of consideration of provision of medical attention in severe cases of illness. (16) Eight of applicant for pension not to be affected if .death of soldier occurs '■while undergoing punishment for offence ■committed by him. (17) Promise of.. special provision" to protect dependents of soldier whose pay is stopped as a result of punishment for misconduct. .'.'.■

The report continues that these improvements have been obtained as the result of continued pressure; each proposal was met at first by the official reply that it could not be done. The league has'also-taken up numberless personal cases. The Wellington City League now has a membership of about a thousand. The executive has posted free to every reservist' called in the ballots in the Wellington Military District a handbook of advico and instruction. Up to the present some fourteen thousand handbooks have been, sent out, including a. few hundred supplied to branch leagues and the National Efficiency Board. During the year about 2000 special letters have been written in. response to enquiries made by Wellington reservists and soldiers' dependents. Over a, thousand personal interviews have been given at the office of the league. " The general policy of the league as laid down by the first Dominion Conference,, held in July, 1917, has been closely adhered to, and in this respect the executive desires to point to a very unfair form o£ criticism indulged in by the opponents of the league when they state that the league is 'asking for more,' and that it has increased its demands. These suggestions, are entirely without foundation. At the first conference above mentioned certain standards were set up and these have never been increased. Unfortunately they have not yet been attained, but the league hopes that by co-operation with the other leagues throughout New Zealand full and complete justice will be attained for our soldiers and adequate provision for their dependents. The executive desires to express the,league's thanks to the press for the generous disposal of its valuable space- in recording the, league's activities. Without this assistance the league could never have carried out the work that it has done nor achieved such a considerable measure of success in its proposals to the Government. . . . Already the medical examinations have indicated to many members that they will not be leaving New Zealand to serve the Empire, and it remains for them to look after the interests of our soldiers, and to seize every opportunity of preaching and practising the duty of the man who doesn't have to

Old rate New rate per week, per week. Widow of private 1 .(no children) ...... Widow -of private (children) ...; Each: child s. d. s. d. 25 30 25 40 7 6 10

nardiair oi motherless child up to !ach motherless child Widowed 1 mother. (up to) .. 15 25 a ii

incapacitation. ... Pife of soldier lach .child . 35 12 6 7 6 40 20 10

Wife of soldier ... Each child Widowed mother (dependent) Invadid father, widower (dependent) Guardian of mother- __ less children ...... 7 5 3 7 7 •21 10 10 10 "21 Special provision for