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North Otago Times, Volume CVI, Issue 13975, 10 September 1917, Page 4

. MINISTERIAL PROMISES TO SECOND DIVISION, ; In the course of their addresses to the New Zealand conference of, representatives of- the Second Division helct in Wellington, two very definite promises were made by Ministers. The Hon Sir'Jaines Allen iii a .speech at the opening of the.conference, said that the Defence Department would use its best -efforts to secure every man in the First Division before the Second Division was called en, while Mr Masscy told 'a. mass delegation of Second Division representatives, which interviewed him/ ■at Parliament House, that the lirst matter to be considered by the Govcriiiii&nt would be the financial for carrying on the war, .... then, he thought, the Second Division proposals came next in importance. Mr Massey further stated that he did not I think there was any doubt that the matters mentioned by the deputation would be settled before the Second Division was called up. "You will be doing your duly, gentlemen," the Prime Minister added, "and the State will do its duty by you; your dependants will be looked after." The men of the Second Division look to the Government to redeem these promises; firstly, that the meshes of the net must be tightened . andevery.mpmber of the First Divi- ' sion called up before married men ' have to leave their homes;secondly that legislation, giving effect to * ! the demands of the Second Divisi6n wpl bo passed. There is no '

suspicion of shirking in the ranks of iho SocoQd Division. At the conference hold in, Wellington in' July, it was unanimously agreed "That this conference of delegates from the Second Division League established throughout the Domin ion affirms the principle of carryiiiß on New Zealand's part in the War to the uild, provided the principle of equality' of sacrifice'be applied by legislation to the whole (fohihitihltyV' That is to say the men of the Second Division are determined, not, to:■ Wade ; Militaryservice, but to sec that adequate provisions arc made for their d 2-. pendants. , That,is the Alpha and Omega of their powerful organisation; It has been suggested that the Government can-"best demonstrate its sincerity regarding its protestations to send the last man and spend the last shilling, by first of all inaugurating a thorough •sombhig out campaign of the many Departments of State which arc holding back thousands of eligible, men. Some months ago, the Hon. G. W. Russell was emphatically of opinion that every eligible man should be sent on active service. Ml' Hussell'Was endeavour ing to justify his hostile attitude towards third year medical students and the demand of the medical faculty that' these students should be granted exemption. Speaking as a representative of the Government-MrßusSell said: "1 am of opinion that nothing counts now but that New Zealand should send wwy possible Jiiu.'i to help win the war." Every true New Zealander applauds the Minister's declaration, but there is a feeling abroad that the Government lacks sincerity in . this matter, and unless sonic emphatic demonstration of opinion is made by the general public, the Government will retain the services of thousands of its servants belonging to the First Division, heedless of the fact that every unmarried man who is granted exemption necessitates the calling up of a married man. The men of the Second Division ex'pect the Prime Minister and the Minister of Defence to honour ttycir promises that-'every eligible man of-the First Division will be sent on active serbefore the Second Division is called on, and that the suggested schemes of pensions and allowances adopted by the Second Division conference as the irreducible minimum will be fully considered by the House of Keprcsenlatives before married men are called up.