SECOND DIVISION LEAGUE.

North Otago Times, 20 July 1917, Page 2

SECOND DIVISION LEAGUE.

CONFERENCE IN WELLINGTON. IMPORTANT RESOLUTIONS . I'AKJUEI). (Per J'rcss Association.) WELLINGTON, July 18. The Second Division Conference resolved that the Government be requested to provide the necessary inaehincry for completing the medical examination in cadi class of the Second Division at least one month before the ballot for such class is taken and also that all ,C2 men after being passed as lit on rij-examinalion, shall not be required to go into camp before the expiry of three months from such re-examina-tion.

Other resolutions were passed as follows: "That 'the medical examination be made the deciding factor as to liability of the State, so that if a man is passed ii 3 lit by the examining medical board the State shall take full responsibility from the moment of his parading for entry to camp and that in the event of his death, or disablement by disease or by accident (when on leave included), his wife and dependants shall be entitled 'to the same pensions and allowances its if his death or disablement occurred on active service or resulted from his employment as a member of the Expeditionary Forces,

"That the Government be requested to provide such competent control over lite cost of living as will ensure protection to pensions and allowances from being at any future time rendered inadequate by the operations of those seeking private profit out of the necessaries of life, the Government to take such action as will rgsult in a reduction of the cost of livin.g, and that allowances to wives and all dependants be increased in the same ratio as the cost of living, "That provision be made by the Go-' ver.nnicnt for the recording of the votes of all soldiers at home or abroad at all genera! elections and referenda, and on all national questions submitted 'to 'the people for decision by popular vote. "That the State should provide a legal representative in c.vh town where a Military Service Board sits whose services shall be available to appellants free of costs,

"That a register of all-classes of reservists be immediately completed by ■the authorities and steps taken to enforce the.;penal provisions of the Act." WELLINGTON',' July 19.

The Conference of the Second' Divl--1 don League to-day received the rcpoit of the Special Committee on the subject' of pay and pensions. It recommends os a day, as for the First Diviaion, ' a separation allowance of os ? day for wife or sole dependant, and Is (id a day for each child, and to a I motherless child L's (id a day; an extra allowance to a wife who is a chronic invalid of Ills a wort, extra lo a chronic invalid child of .Is,'extra pension* to widow with childiTii !i- Ills (id; to a widow willioul children or sole dependant, K'l ."(s (id; to a Hiild Ids lid a week; to a motherless child(l7a (id; extra allowance to wife who is a chronic invalid IDs, to a child who is a chronic -invalid Ms; ■ single or married, i'l a week for all ranks; wife or §ole dependant £l, to be increased to £2 16s Od ou the death of the soldier in the case of a widow with children; up to £2 Os if without children; each child Ids (id a week, motherless children 17s (id;.a chronic nivalid wife 10s extra, a chronic invalid child 5s extra. The age limit of benefits to children <is: Males/seventeen years; females, twenty years. The Second Division Conference decided that the -separation- allowance should be Gs per 1 * day. The .other clauses of the committee' 3 rccomnien(lilions regarding soldiers' pay were adopted, The coiiiiiiittee.'s recommendations regarding pensions were adopted, except that, the-amount for a widow with was increased to £.') !ls, ami that for a widow without children,'or.for a to £2 12s Od, both ,to be. in conformity with the increased separation allowance favoured. Regarding .'pensions -for totally disabled soldiers, the committee recommended 'the conference to adopt the British scheme, with a 50 per cent, increase of amounts. It was pointed out that under the scheme it -would be possible for a' widow,to get n'big-' gar pension'than a 1; woman with a dis-! abied husband to help. ■ The-'confer-'' cuce/ deferred Ihe adoption of the re-!■ port for a:committee .to report on that : l aspect: of > the. scneme. /: ~;.-,' f - ; V '/;.":.-: