THE SECOND DIVISION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16583, 5 July 1917, Page 4

THE SECOND DIVISION.

CLASSIFICATION GAZETTED;

FAMILY CHANGES TO COlliig

[BT TELEGRAPH.— ASSOCUTIQX.I

WELLINGTON. Wedncadjy. '.-'■ . The final classification of the Second Livi, - sion of the reserve was notified in th* i form of a Gazette Extraordinary n j, > afternoon. The division are divided I into six classes, according to {fa . number of children, as previously j^. 1 nounced, with the important addition of 1 the phrase "For the time being." J,, , other words, provision is made for alter--j ing the classification of a reservist "jj i accordance with any increase in the num. (, ber of hi children or depletion by death. : . The Gazette also defines the position of tj a reservist in relation to illegitimate chj], i dren, and directs that any reservist who 1 has lost a son as a result of service in the ■ naval or military forces during the pre, , sent war shall have that son counted as j if he were still living. A further Gazette Extraordinary issued 1 at the same time makes it compulsory far ' Second Division reservists to nokfy any i change in their family. The objer 1 of this [; is to enable the Government statistician to determine the classes to which tha *«. "> servists belong for the time being. r ~~ '\ * MEDICAL EXAMINATION. t I NOT POSSIBLE BEFORE BALLOT. [BT TELEGRAPH.— SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.^ WELLINGTON. Wednesday. Replying to-day to a question whether arrangements would bo made for medically examining reservists of the Second Division at an early dato in order that they ■ might know at tho earliest possible moi ment whether they are likely to bti called up for service or not, Sir James Allen, Minister for Defence, said: "It is not ■ possible to arrange for the mtrlical examin- ' ation of reservists of the Second Division. ■ before they were called up for the follow- ■ ing reasons:—(a) That the medical exam- ■ ination only has effect for three months, and would have to be reviewed if the '■ reservist was not called into camp before tho expiration of that time; (b) that it ' is impossible to provide the medical boards that would be required for this purpose. At the present time the medical, boards lire just able to deal with tha men called up in the current ballot* each month, and extra boards that may be appointed will be required to undertake the re-examination of men who have been previously classed as unfit for active service and whose- cases are to be reviewed before the Second Division reservists are balloted for; (c) that every reservist, on .medical examination is sworn in as a member of the Expeditionary Force; and (d) that Second Division reservisb could only be called up for medical exam-

ination according to their class, and it will be at least two months yet befora the Government statistician is in a position to certify as to the reservists who have been placed in the several class** of the Second Division."

EXTRA FINANCIAL HELP. I QUESTION OF CONTINUATION. JBT TBLBCTAIPE. —OWN COKRESFO: WELLINGTON, Wednesday. An explanation of the regulations providing financial assistance to soldiers was given by the Minister for Defence in the House of Representatives to-dav. Referring to the possibility that soldiers to whom assistance had been granted might be incapacitated or if he be killed, Mr. G. J. Anderson (Mataura) asked whether the assistance would be continued to such' an incapacitated soldier or to the widow of a soldier who had been killed.

Sir James Allen replied that the regulations make no provision for the continuance of this financial assistance after the discharge of the soldier. The position of the soldier who is discharged ■ because of disablement or ill-health will be met. by the War Pensions Act. • The regulations do, however, provide "that' on the death of any soldier lor whom financial assistance has been granted, the Minister for Defence may continue that assistance either in whole or in part in favour of j the widow or other ' dependants for any period not exceeding 26 weeks after hm death. Any further assistance required would then ba granted under the War Pensions Act. a

PROVISION TOR DEPENDANTS./ [BT TEIEGJUPH—Sr-ECUI, CORRESPONDENT.] WELLINGTON. Wednesday. 1 Improved provision for the dependants of Second Division reservists was demanded by Mr. C. E. Statham (Duncdin Central), in the House of Representative* this evening. "The Government must increase the scale of pensions and allow-' £aces," he said. " If a medical man toes: to the front now and is killed the State pays his wife 25a a week and his child Ts Cd a week up to the age of 16 years. Those payments are not large enough." I am sure I am voicing the opinions of the Second Division men when I say that they are not so much concerned about the wages "of the soldier during his lifetime as they are about the provision that will be made for the wife and children in the event of the soldier's death. The pensions must be adequate, and I appeal to the House with confidence that when the proper_ time comes, it will make proper , provision _ for the dependants of tho. Second Division men." 'J