SECOND DIVISION

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 9958, 30 April 1918, Page 6

SECOND DIVISION

CHRISTCHURCH DEMANDS GOVERNMENT REMINDED OF ITS PROMISES.” Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, April 29. There was a very largo attendance last night at a meeting called by the Second Division League, many persons being unable to obtain admittance. The Mayor presided. Mr M. J. Gresson, chairman of the Christchurch League, said that the league hoped to secure for wives and dependents of soldiers an ’ assurance that they would be adequately provided for, and he confessed great sorrow that it had not attained its ends. It had l failed because it relied on pledges from the Cabinet which had since been broken. With regard to the suggestion that allowances would not bo increased, but that financial assistance would bo increased, he said that the executive of the league would reject' such a proposal. They knew wbat that Financial Assistance Board was, and they did not want charity. He moved; ‘‘That this meeting of representative citizens of Christchurch, being prepared 1 to meet their.share of financial responsibility, insists that the Government immediately grant the demands of the Second Division League.” When Mr 11. J. Yates rose to second the motion a woman in the audience asked: “Must our husbands be taken away from us?” to which Mr Yates replied; ,T You may sottlo that to-morrow night.” They should, ho said, insist that the women they loft behind, who might be faced with industrial conscription, should at least get the bare necessities to keep them in existence. Dr Thacker, M.P., said the country was not democratically represented, and the people should circulate petitions calling on the members of Parliament to resign. Ho would do so at any time. At the secret caucuses the members were promised that if they voted the increased allowances proposed and passed the Finance Bill, the Financial Board’s assistance would be in addition to the increases. This promise had i been broken. It was a crime to offer charity to a soldier. or his dependent. Mr J. McCombs, M.P., said the Government, having denied Parliament the chance to discuss the matter, it lay with the people, and! if they liked to' fight for the wives and children they could force the Government to do by regulation in a couple of weeks what it was not prepared to allow Parliament to do. He declared it was nseles to blame members of Parliament or the executive of the league. If the reservists declared their demands with one voice they must be given. Mr G. Witty, M.P., said that while he did not entirely agree with the league, he conceded that neither the First nor the -Second Division had l had a fair deal. Every single man should go before a married man was called up. No single man could be more essential in -industry than a man to his wife. Mr E. Langley declared that the motion did not go far enough. He moved as an “That this meeting of Christchurch citizens is of opinion that no Second Division man should leave for camp until the demands of tho Second Division League are conceded by the Government; and also that it demands that an election be held immediately.” Mr H. Hunter seconded 1 tho amendment, which was carried with only four dissentients. As a result of the carrying of the ’amendment it was announced that Mr Gresson will resign his office of president of the Second Division League. AN M.P. PROTESTS. Following is the copy of a letter which was sent this morning by Mr Isitt, M.P., to the chairman of tho Second Division League’s meeting:— “I regret that after the passing of the resolution carried at Sunday night’s meeting, and that carried at a Second Division League meeting under their disguise on Saturday night, I cannot see my way to attend your meeting or in any W£y to identify myself with your executive as at present constituted. If ypu have tho right to refuse to defend your country and to leave in the lurch your comrades who are uesperatoly strhggling against the Prussian hordes because injustices and inequalities exist, that should- he remedied, there is not a man who has died for you and yours, or who is to-day fighting in _ the Empire’s defence, who had not ah. equal right to refuse service. I recognise that the National Government has not made as full provision as it should have done for your wives and children, and all that under existing conditions I feel warranted in doing I shall do td secure some increase.” -in J Messrs M. J. Gresson (president) andX,. .T. Campbell (a prominent member of the Seoqnd Division League cxocutuve) have also resigned on account of Sunday night’s resolution. Mr Yates (secretary of tho Ohnstchurch Second Division League) has replied to Mr Isitt, stating that; “The motion as moved by tho league’s official at Sunday's meeting was defeated because the -public, taking control of tho meeting, passed a resolution to moot their wishes. Tho executive, or league, had no connection with the meeting held on Saturday night at the Foresters’ Hall.” CONFERENCE WITH POLITICIANS “STRONG AND ANXIOUS FEELING” EXPRESSED. Pt-s« As*ocfnHcn CHRISTCHURCH, April 29. Members of Parliament had a conference r to-day with the Second Division executive, and the following telegram was subsequently sent by Messrs Witty, Ell, Thacker, and McCombs to Sir James Allen:— Very strong and anxious feeling here among Second Division men about allowance to wives andi children. Kindly, state definitely and make public what tho Cabinet intends to do as to allowances for soldiers’ dependents. At the conference Mr H. G. Ell said that ho had not attended Sunday night’s meeting because he did not think any good purpose would bo served- Tho law was on tho statute book and ho had voted to extend tho ago to include himself, for he would be quite prepared to join his son at tho front. 110 considered the demand’s of tho league were just and fair. At the I fame time those in authority had the

power of the purse and ho believed Sir Joseph. IVard avals tas anxious to. help reservists as anybody, but ho had to consider tho probable duration of the w.-r. “I am not going to bo a party,” Mr Ell added, “either directly ov indirectly, to counsel revolt as a means to gain what yon are after. I may bo incurring displeasure or not, hut it is ray duty to take up that attitude.” “For goodness’ sake, said Mr G. Witty, “don’t try to stop ‘ any man going to the barracks to-night. Let us bo men and let them go into camp and we will see that they" are not neglected. We have a right to seo that tho men aro properly pi id and their dependents properly cared for.” Mr J. McCombos said that tho money involved in the’ Second Division League’s demands could be paid ten times ’over. It was true that Sir Joseph’ Ward had said that tho reviewing of -allowances would he granted before'the men went to the front,, but it was competent for Second Division reservists to tell Sir Joseph Ward that that promise was not good enough since a man’s military pay started and his civil 'employment ceased, not when he went to the front, but when he went into camp. DUNEDIN RESOLUTION' press Association, , DUNEDIN, April 29. The following motion, was carried by tho local branch of .the Second Division League to-night: ‘‘This mooting views with alarm the Government’s failure to stand by its. pledge to meet the demands of "tho'- league as to allowances to dependents of soldiers, and decides to use every endeavour to bring pressure on tho powers that bo in tho direction of compelling them to keep faith with Second Division members and also do justice by’"Soldiers as of right.”’ " STATEMENT BY LOCAL OFFICER. In reference to tho resolution passed at a- meeting of Christchurch citizens bn Sunday evening , last, JSitr O. H. Chapman, hon.‘ secretary .National Second Division. League, states that the national executive of the league has not considered the proposal contained in the amendment carried at that meeting, ‘ ‘That no Second Division man should leave for camp until tho demands of tho Second l Division League are conceded by Government.” The executive will not consider Jany notion un.til a reply from Cabinet in regard to separation allowances and other matters brought befodb Cabinet on April 23rd, when the league’s requests were reiterated, has beon received. At tho same time the league insists on tho Government granting the demands of the league and relies on the public of New Zealand to support tho just claims of soldiers and their dependents.