SOLDIERS' DEPENDANTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16677, 23 October 1917, Page 4

SOLDIERS' DEPENDANTS.

THE SCALE OF ALLOWANCES. RESOLUTIONS IN PROTEST. [BT TELEGRAPH.— association - .] WELLINGTON. Monday. A mass meeting was held last night to protest against what was described as the failure of the Government to makeadeouate provision for the Second Division. Two resolutions were carried, each with one dissentient— disagreeing with Ministerial statements as to the probabilities of an early peace, and urging the Government to refuse to be pressed by financial interests into any slackening of its duty to the wives and dependants of soldiers; the other expressing strong disapproval of the failure of Parliament to provide adequate separation allowances, and urging the Government to reconsider and bring down a new scale of 6s a day for the wife, and Is 6d for each child as an absolute minimum.

Long letters were read from Mr. Massey and Sir Joseph Ward, defending the position taken up by the Government. Mr, Massey, in reply to a request to explain his change that the Second Division was not playing the game, referred to attempts to use political influence and implied threats in telegrams and resolutions at public meetingsSir Joseph Ward said he had not accused the league of not playing the game, and dealt at length with the financial situation. Mr. Armstrong, president of the league, said there had been no threats made, but he believed in argument. He strongly condemned the Prime Minister's accusation. They were only attempting to obtain proper provision for their wives and children. They were in the grip of the military system, and once they were in uniform their voices would be'stilled, as still as members' voices after the famous caucus of October 10. They must make their complaint now.