SECOND DIVISION LEAGUE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LII, Issue 40, 15 February 1918, Page 5

SECOND DIVISION LEAGUE

MEETING 'OF NELSON-'BRANCH. There was a very fair attendance of members of the Neleon branch of the Second Division League at a meeting in the City Council Chambers last evening, held to consider matters m reference to financial assistance to soldiers. The President of the branch, Mr C. R IT ell, presided. Messrs T. A. H. Field, M.P., and W. _W. Snodgrass were present bvi invitation. A letter was" read from the National Federation of Second Division Leagues re annual subscription to cover expenses of an office and staff to deal with inquiries concerning Second Division matters. It was resolved that an annual subscription of 3d per head on members of this branch be paid to the central executive to assist in providing the necessarv office and staff. From the Nelson Market Gardeners and Fruitgrowers' Association, asking the League to take up certain resolutions passed at a recent meeting and alreadv published in the Press. It was resolved that the letter be received; also that action be deferred, and that the market gardeners and fruitgrowers be invited to become members o± the '^n' 1 reference to financial assistance to soldiers several members explained their experiences with the Financial Assistance Board. and Mr W. W. Snodgrass answered numerous questions and explained many matters connected with the granting of financial' 'assistance One interesting point raised was that in a certain case no provision had been made for rates and although i wais explicitly stated that the provisions included rates ana taxes. Mr S.nodgrase tsaid he knew that rates and taxes had been paid in sev-. eral instances. The Board considered a case as a whole. It looked into what a man was earning before he was called up and decided on the total sum a m an was entitled to receive. Supposing, eaid Mr Snodgrass, the Board agreed , on £3O per annum, this would not be split ud" under the eight headings for which assistance could be granted but would be apportioned in the chiei division so far as any particular case waa concerned. . A Member: I suppose those remarks apply to others also. Mr Snodgrass : That is so. Mr T. A.' H. Field, M.P., said that members of Pai'liamentlQoked^upon financial grants up to £3 a week as fairly satisfactory m some cases and verv .satisfactory m many. intention of Parliament was that every man should be treated fairly. If the complaints were general would take up the matter and put on a better footing,. He had taken notes of a number of matters, mentioned and would make representationsSpeaking later, Mr Field said he - could speak only of his own expenences with. . the Financial Assistance he had found it willing to deal fairly with matters brought before it. Before calling on .Mr _Snodgrass to address the. meeting, Mr Fell said that Mr Snodgrass had had a great ence in these matters, as much as any , man in New Zealand, and he would; - have some valuable information to give. ■Mr Snodgras. first of an anv influence whatever wrth.the, Finan cial Assistance Board, . He, advised every member in making out a clan fof assistance to do so carel,ally, J. forgetting anything, such as overtim or garden work, which meant any ap-, preciable return. Th e protection of, soldiers' property was complete from the time of his entering camp. 1M members of the Financial . Assistance Board ave their services free, and were picked'. men. They had been very successful in th e work they had to do. Mr Snodgrass went on- to enumerate many cases that had come under his notice where very fair provision had been made. In quite, a number of instances families were better off financially than before the husband enlisted or was called up. This applied particularly to men with, civil incomes under £4 a week. In his OP ion- any gift hy an employer _ should not be taken into consideration dj the Board. The re-hearing of cases was a very important matter. Board was willing to re-hear a case at any time. , - j, Mr Field said that as far as, members of Parliament and -Cabinet concerned, he was sure that the desire was to do alb that was possible for the l men called 'up. Where neceaary % i provements would be made. The- thing ; was to find out what was wrong and

rectify it. . Mr Snodgrass took strong exception to some of th e remarks that had be<*n made' during the course of the discussion. implying that he had soirie special influence with the Financial Assistance Board. The members concerned explained .tliat "no sucn meaning* was intended from their remarks. At the same time they felt tnat the forms of application shoul<Jf not be so . difficult to fill in. ; The meeting, on the call of the cnairmaa, passed a "very hearty vote of thinks to Mr Snodgrass for the work he had done and for coming to the meeting to explain matters. _ . Mr Fell said that no man in New Zealand had done more for soldieTs than "Mr Snodgrass. _ , The meeting also expressed jts thanks to Mr Field, M.P., for. also attending and hearing their ppint' of view. Members knew Mr Field would help them all he could. ■■•k In returning thanks, Mr Field Baicl that he could oily assure them that he would do all he possibly _ could .to assist the League or any individual enlisting or being called u.p for serVl< Mr Snodgrass to-day wrote to, the Financial - Assistance Board expressing opinion that the pyament of half-pay by an employer to' a soldier , should not be taken into consideration by the Board