CONFERENCE AT WELLINGTON.

Marlborough Express, Volume LI, Issue 230, 28 September 1917, Page 8

CONFERENCE AT WELLINGTON.

[Press Association.]

WELLINGTON, Sept. 28

The Second Division League Conference to-day re-affirmed the manifest injustice of women and children boing deprived of their .so.uce of income owing to some military offence committed by tho soldier on whom they are dependent. It also decided again to urge tho Government to devise means by which a soldier's widow may not, unclor the terms of a mortgage, be compelled to ?-.ell her homo. There was- considerable- discussion on tho question cf a Second Division Reservist having at lef<st three months'' notice <ifter the medical examination before being requested to go into camp. The Conference was strongly oi opinion that effect should bo given ho such a request by Statute and not by regulation, but eventually it was decided to urge that tho regulation to give three months' notice could not be altered without tho full authority of Cabinet.

The Conference considered a motion to tho eft'ect that it' financial difficulties stand in tho way of granting the League's demands regarding allowances and pensions, the Government .should take immediate stops to legislate providing that no person in New Zealand shall receive a net income .of more than £-500 por annum. Supporters of the motion, which was. trenchantly worded, said that its object was to obtain equality of sacrifice. Ministers had .stated that tho country could not afford to grant the demands. The Conference should accept the challenge, as the country was in a position to pay tho amounts asked if a firm stand wore taken. After discussion, in which several speakers expressed themselves very vigorousiy, the drafting of the motion was submitted to a .sub-committee.