SECOND DIVISION LEAGUE

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 17, 19 July 1918, Page 3

SECOND DIVISION LEAGUE

ANNUAL. MEETING

CRITICISM OF GOVERNMENT'S

ADMINISTRATION

The first annual meeting of the Wellington Second Division League was held in the Masonic Hall last evening. The president, Mr. R. A. Armstrong, was in the chair. The attendance was about forty-five.

The annual report and balance-sheet (of which the main features have been published in The Post) were adopted.

The Chairman said that the work of the league was recorded in the conditions of military service at the present time. The Minister of Defence had remarked recently that the league's report had not referred to the work of other organisations on behalf of soldiers and their.dependents. The league, Mr. Armstrong remarked, did not take upon it-self to report for other organisations. The league was very grateful to some members of Parliament, but others had set themselves in opposition to the league. As far as war relief associations were concerned, he could not say that the league had received any help latterly from these bodies-in the campaign on behalf of soldiers' dependents. The existence of these societies was a reflection on the administration of the Government. There should not have been any need for these organisations, which practically dispensed a form of charitable aid. The dependents of soldiers, in the circumstances, had been helped by these societies with fundsi to which members of the Second Division League contributed to the best of their ability, but nevertheless the system remained a. stain on the Government's administration. Mr. Armstrong claimed that the league had been consistent in its attitude in its statement of the conditions which should be arranged for soldiers and_ their dependents. At present the position of dep-end"nts was affected by the attitude of til? Soldiers' Financial Assistance-Board. The league held that this board's standard was not high enough when the cost of living was considered. ■ The Chairman irepeated lm recent statraisnt-s on this subject. , The board's chairman had stated that no good purpose could be served by a continuance oi' the correspondence, but the .league's executive bslinved that matters should not be left in the present position. One reason why the leasue had pressed for a wife's se-paration allowance of 6s a day v/na that the Government had not yet a definite scheme of repatriation. This lack, after four years of war, was a reflection on the Government. It was not right, not fair, that men should be asked to go to the front, with their future wra-p-oed in mystery.. The new Minister of Lands, the Hon. D. H. Guthrie, was doing his best to speed up land settlement, but this was only a part of repatriation, suitable for only a limited number of men. A big, broad scheme ■was ' needed. If the separation allowance of 6s a day for the wife, with a "nest egg" of 3s'a day (deferred pay) for the man, was de?m_ed to be excessive, let the Government bring forward a definite proposal of its own, on a basis of justice to all concerned.

Referring to details of the report and balance-sheet, Mr. Armstrong declared that tho financial position of the league needed strengthening. i The Chairman read correspondence covering cases in which the writers expressed appreciation of beneficial services given by the league. The question of medical examinations was becoming, a serious thing, continued the Chairman. Men who had been rejected for life insurance, even \by the Government Office, had been classed " Fit A " for active service. These men felt that if they could be accepted for active service they should be allowed to take out insurance policies. With regard to the league's future work, there was still "quite a lot to be battled for," despite the criticism of sections of the league. He felt sure that the people of New Zealand were with the league in its efforts to obtain satisfactory conditions for soldiers and their dependents. Wherever representatives of the league had appeared before the public at meetings, resolutions unanimously supporting the league's policy had been adopted. A reasonable state of comfort in dress and general living was necessary for a maintenance of the morale of the population, i The league did not wish to issue challengesl The league had put forward a scale for a wife and child (published in The Post). If anybody could suggest a more reasonable scale, which could survive analysis, the league would accept the position. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The following officers were elected:— President, Mr. R. A. Armstrong; hon. i secretary and treasurer, Mr. C. H. Chap- i man; committee, Messrs. R. Brown, K. S. Gandy, E. Howell, H. Linklater, C. W. Laird, H. M'Grcgor, T. Smith, W. j J. Robbins, R. G. Reed, J. H. Ryder, A. W. Parton, H. F. Toogood, F. Johnson, D. F. Skinner, and J. F. Atkins, WAR ALLOWANCES. Mr. Chapman moved: "That this meeting of the Wellington Second Division League endorses the several resolutions of the recent Dominion Conference, and particularly urges upon Government the necessity of liberalising the policy of the Soldiers' Financial Assistance Board so that the wife of a soldier shall have a net minimum income clear of recurring obligations of £2 2s per week, with children's allowances extra, and further that the repatriation proposals of tlie league should be immediately dealt with by the Government." The mover said that the minimum of 52 2s for a wife would not allow many luxuries; it would assure only a fairly comfortable living. Apparently there were influences in the country hoping that repatriation would settle i*st>lf later on by queues o£ men waiting for work. The motion was carried. INSURANCE PREMIUMS. Mr. J. H. Ryder moved: —"That this meeting of the Second Division Lenjriie | calls the attention of the Minister of j Befoncn to the policy of the Soldier's Financial Assistance Board regarding I notification of grants of insurance ere-

miums and war risk, whereby the onus^ of notifying the companies is placed on the soldier or his dependent, thereby running grave risk of the policies lapsing, andl asks that instructions be given to the board to notify insurance companies and other payees immediately grants are made." The motion was carried. THE S.F.A. BOARD. Mr. H. M'Gregor moved :—"That the Wellington Second Division League renews its request for a full enquiry into the administration of the Financial Assistance Board with a view to : — " (a) Determining the question as to the competency oE one institution in Wellington dealing adequately with thousands! of cases from all parts of the Dominion. . " (b) Determining whether the system and methods adopted by the board can be improved in the interests of soldiers and their dependents. ". (c) Examining into all the 1917 grants which have been reduced subsequent to the increase of separation allowances, and all decisions made prior to the recent liberalising of the board's policy, with a, view of bringing them up to a standard providing reasonable comfort for soldiers' dependents." The Chairman said it was necessary to draw attention to the manner in which the board's payments were made. The machinery should be speeded up. The league did not wish to reflect on the personnel of the board, but the official side needed investigation. A booklet explaining the system should be sent to every man who was passed. "Fit A." There was a great opportunity of the Government to do something in this matter. i Mr. Tvyder suggested that the GovernI merit should be requested to establish local agencies of the S.F.A. Board in various districts of the Dominion. The Chairman replied that a request !of that kind had been made, but it i could be repeated. j Mr. Chapman said there were cases ' in which reservists had not been treated ■ with courtesy by the Soldiers' Financial ' Assistance Board, and others had not 1 obtained assistance. i. A voice: ''Financial Resistance Board." The motion was carried. WIDOWED MOTHERS. Mr. K. Gundy moved : "That the , position i"elating to the granting of : separation allowances to the widowed ' mothers of soldiers in the opinion of : this league is still unsatisfactory, and ■ that the Government be asked to amend : the regulations so that the possession of • property that is used as a home or that I is not'income-earning shall not debar, ' irrespective of capital value, and that I in cases where a widowed mother has ! more than one son serving with the ! forces, she should be entitled to the separation allowance in the same manner as if she had only one son . serving. Further,, that as the War Pensions Act now , places the widowed mother, if wholly de- ! pendent, on the same footing as a wife j (without children), the separation allowance should also be equivalent to that of a wife." The motion was carried. DEPENDENTS OF HOME SERVICE , MEN. Mr. A. L. Monteath moved : "That the Government should fulfil the promise ; mado by the Minister of Defence in j Parliament that home service, men j would receive the same separation allowI ances for their dependents as the men lou active service, a.nd the league renews its request made in April last that these men on home service who are actually separated from their families should receive payment at the increased rates." ■ Th 6 motion was earned. RETROSPECTIVE ALLOWANCES. The Chairman said that the. lea-giio had been always in favour of the principle of retrospective allowances, about which some unfortunate misunderstandings had arisen. He sincerely hoped tfcii an equitable scheme would be submitted to Parliament. He was confident that all branches of the Second Division could snpport such a principle. Ho moved : "That tho V r llington Second Division League nova with approval that tHe Returned Soldiers' Association is considering approaching the Government with a scheme for making the in-' creases in allowances' retrospective, formally affirms its agreement with the principle of retrospection, and pledges its support to any equitable proposals brought forward." The motion was carried. A vote of thanks to the officers, whoso work was highly praised, was carried by acclamation. The Chairman said that lie did not think that any organisation had had a better set of ofiicers. The meetings of the executive 'had always been well attended. There had always been some burning question, and "many bombs had been fired into the camp of the languid." He particularly mentioned Mr. Chapman's services as honorary secretary and treasurer. "The slogan now must be the duty of the man who does not ha.ye to go," concluded Mr. Armstrong. "The work of the league must be carried on necessarily by those who do not have to go to thel front." Up to the present there had, been no sacrifice, except that of the sol--dier on active service and his dependents. The country generally was in a, better state of prosperity than it had ever been.