OUR READERS' OPINIONS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLVIII, Issue 4709, 6 November 1917, Page 7

OUR READERS' OPINIONS.

SECOND DIVISION LEAGUE AND ITS CRITICS. (To the Editor.) Sir,—Now that the 1917 session of our ‘ ‘Pull-bo th-way s’ ’ Parliament is ended, have we all asked ourselves the question: What have they done? AVell,'- they closed hotels at six. funked tlie cost of living bill, and borrowed a ton of money. I- would not dare to weary you all by telling of what they did not do (anyhow you would not let me). There is one thing I would like to refer to: that is the request of the Second Division. AYe are, I fear, losing caste with a lot of the public, thanks to a 'Cabinet Minister, stating that we are not “playing the game.” The remarks of a section of the returned soldiers at Auckland to the effect that they would not. go on a platform with a member of the Second Division League, on- the grounds that we did not fight for them, was most uncalled for. Surely the First Division were capable of fighting for themselves ? We are not singing out for ourselves—in fact, we are prepared to fight on half the pay of the First Division. But we are seeing to it that our wives and children get fair treatment. , Let me quote an instance: The wife of a reservist takes ill and requires medical attention. On her allowance she is not in the position to pay for same and she must tell the doctor so. She must be under an obligation, charity; hut half a loaf is better than no bread. The doctors have kindly offered their services free to dependants of men on active service who are not in the position to pay. They are to he commended. If it were not for their kind offer, the wife would not even he under an ligation, she would suffer on. Free medical attention is one of the requests. It must be our wives’ and children’s rights. Do our critics say we are not “playing the game” because we will not tolerate our wives and children accepting charity and being under obligations from morning till night, begging from ‘this committee and ’ that committee. No, we think too much of our womenfolk, and whether it meets with our critics’ approval or not, we tell them right here that we do not want' to leave bur womenfolk in such an embarrassing position. Of course they can work ; there will he plenty of billets. But when, the services of our women are required -it should he to render service for Empire only, and that time has not arrived. —I am. e tc., PLAY THE G AME.