THE SECRET SESSION

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 September 1917, Page 5

THE SECRET SESSION

THE OEEICIAL REPORT.

NO LEAVE EUR MAIN ROLY MEN.

ERESH DANGERS ARISEN

NEW REN SIGNS SCHEME OUTLINED.

lily Electric Telegraph—Special to "Btar."j

WELLINGTON, This Day

The following official report of the special meeting- oi Raniameiil is supplied by tlie Government ‘‘At the special secret meeting of members held last night, information was conveyed with very much regret that there were difficulties and dangers in. carryingout the scheme for the granting of furlough to members of (he New Zealand' Expeditionary Eorce, and those difficulties were of such moment that it had liecome necessary to cancel the arrangement. The position was fully explained to members, aiid the following resolution was passed :—“Members of the New Zealand House of Representatives assembled, with all the information which has been supplied to them, unanimously but most regretfully agree that the proposals for giving furlough to the Main Body so that they might bo able to visit their homes in New Zealand cannot, under existing circumstances, be given effect to.”

Knowing' the great disappointment to (ho men who have given such untiring' and devoted service on behalf of their country and the Umpire, and how grieved their next-of-kin atid the people in New Zealand must he the (Jovermueut placed nil the facts before members of Parliament- It only remains to ask the relatives of the men at the front and the public to accept with fortitude the change which has of necessity to be made. To the men the assurance must go out that this disappointment makes them more dear to their own people in New Zealand ,who share the disappointment with themNew Zealanders fully recognise how the members of the Expeditionary force have played their part, and are fully assured they will continue to do soli will be a consolation to those at (be front to realise that the people of the Dominion have made up their minds to play their part bravely, and that they will await with added eagerness (he end of the war and the return of their loved ones to (heir homes in this country.

The (Joverument proposals for increases in pensions ami in allowances were placed before members- The Bill dealing - wih pensions will he introduced without any delay.

Tile proposed increased allowances to .wives, children, and other dependents of soldiers were explained to honourable members.

The present, liahilil.v tor pensions is £1 -Id,()()(). The proposed increases on Ihe present liability amount to £IBO,OOO- The estimated increased liability is £578,000, It no alternative were made in pensions Hie estimated fl.ibililv iw(dvi> months from now on Id bo '£823,000- Under Hie proposals the estimated liability twelve months from now would be £l,l Kid,ooß- The estimated increased liahilil.v is £210.000. Allowances to wives, children, guardians, and widowed mothers at. present rates are £822,788, and at the new rates £7l.l,Kit, an increase. if bronaid into operation at once of £888,070. The estimated liability at 80l.h September, 11)18, for wives, children, gmirdinns, and widowed mothers at present rales would be, ,£9159,577, and at the new rates £2,087.091, an increase of £1,098,114. At the present time the liability ,is £822,788, the new rates at dtith September. 1918, £2,087,091, of which £9159,59 7 is accounted for by the increased number of wives' and children, an increase of £J ,714,908. Deduct £989,577, leaving' £775,820, for which the new rates alone are responsible, fn twelve months the new rates will involve an increased liability of pensions of £240,000 and allowances £775,820, a total of £1,015,826. THE SCHEME INADEQUATE. LEAGUE'S CRITICISM. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Deferring' to the official statement regarding the proposed future pensions and allowances for soldiers and their dependents, Air Armstrong, President of the National Federation of Second Division Leagues, said that the figures quoted were very bald, but; taken on their face value they showed an inadequacy that fully justified the anxiety of members of the League throughout the Dominion regarding the Ministerial attitude towards the League’s proposals. It was impossible to deal with the details, because the adjustments would alter cases- The adjustments, however, could not alter the fact that the totals indicated that the provisions proposed must be hopelessly inadequate- It was sincerely to be hoped that, as a result of last" night’s conference, the Government would reconsider the whole matter. £ ■