SECOND DIVISION

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 10027, 19 July 1918, Page 6

SECOND DIVISION

ANNUAL MEETING OF THE LEAGUE

MEMBERS URGED TO CARRY ON

ACTIVITIES REVIEWED BY THIS

PRESIDENT,

There was a moderate attendance at the first annual meeting of the Second Division League, held in the Masonic Hall, Boulcott street, last . eveningTho president (Mr R. A. Armstrong) presided.' ' Referring to the annual report (already published), Mr Armstrong said tho work of the league was recorded in tho conditions of-service at the present time. With regard to the statement by the Minister for Deionce that the league had not given credit to other organisations for what they had done, he said the league was not responsible for other people's activities. What had the War Relief Association done? In October of last year the Advisory Board had expressed tho opinion that the separation- allowances then announced were as much as the country could stand. They nil knew how the allowances had advanced since then. The speaker did not think tho leaguo had much to thank the War Relief Association for as regarded separation allowances. The speaker referred briefly to press comments, and twitted the "Times" with having changed it s views of tho league's actions. As regarded tho circumstances in which a soldier should be loft, the speaker said that .tho question of roonlistment salaries was the determining factor as to 'how a soldier's wife and children should be left. He regarded this as entirely wrong. When tho State took a man away and conscripted his life they could not measure such a thing by any industrial standard. The whole question of o soldiers' dependents' welfare, standard of living, and maintenance rested almost entirely with the Financial Assistance Board". This was most unsatisfactory. The separation allowance of £OO a year was not enough, in view of the high cost of living, and the league should not relax its efforts to havo the standard of the allowances improved. Mr Armstrong said it had been denied that children's allowances wcro being taken to meet tho wife's recurring liabilities, but tho ioague had specific instances of this having been done.

Tho speaker went on to refer generally to the work of the league and what remained to be done. They had a, lot to keep-driving for, in spite of what some people and the press might say. If they could not provide adequately for the soldiers they were not worthy of the name of manhood. The majority of the people wore with tho league, and if they displeased some people they would have to bear tho brunt of it. If anybody went along and told "the league that the separation allowances they were asking for were in excess of the requirements of the wives-and," children they would be prepared to reconsider their claims—not otherwise. He also stressed the need of finance in the campaign in the future. '

Tho Wellington executive, said the speaker, -was being continually asked by other executives to make renewed representations to the Government with reference to the grants of the Financial Assistance Board. Ho refered to the refusal of the Government to grant the wife 6s a day and put as a day away against tht soldier's return. It had beeii said that this was a matter of repatriation, but the fact was that the Government had no definite scheme of repatriation. It was wrong to send a man away to-the front with his future unprovided for. It was the least the Government could do to provide something for a soldier to look forward to on his return to this country. If the Government did not favour the deferred payment scheme let it suggest a better scheme. They would welcomo something, hu'9 let tho Government act. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. , ALLOWANCES AND REFATRIA- . XI ON. Tho question of separation allowances was again ihtroduced 4 by the following motion," proposed by Mr C. H. Chapman: "That this meeting of the Wellington Second Division League endorses the several resolutions of tho recent Dominion Conference, and par-; ticularly urges upon Government tho necessity of liberalising the policy of tho Soldiers' Financial Assistance Board, so" that the wife of a soldier shall have a not minimum income clear of recurring obligations of £2 2s 'per week, with children's allowances cxtra, and. further, that the repatriation proposals of the league should bo immediately dealt with' by Government-" This was carried. INSURANCE PREMIUMS.

The following motion, proposed by Mr J. H. Kydor, was agreed to: "That this mooting of the Second Division League calls the attention ox tho Minister for Defence to the policy of tho Soldiers' financial Assistanco Board regarding notification of grants of insurance premiums and war risk, whereby the onus of notifying the companies is placed on tho soldier of his dependent thereby running grave risk of the policies lapsing, and asks tnat instructions be givon to tho board to notify insurance companies and other payees immediately grants are made " FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE BOAitD. A brief discussion followed the reading of a motion with reference to the Financial Assistance Board. It was proposed by Air &. McGregor, ■ and read as under:

"That tho Wellington Socond Division League renews its request for a full inquiry into the administration of the Financial Assistanco Board, with a View to: (a) Determining the question as to the competency of ono institution in Wellington dealing adequately with thousands of eases from all parts of the Dominion; (b) determining whether the system and methods adopt-

ed by tho board can be improved oo in the interests of soldiers and their dependents ;„(c) examining into all the 1917 grants'which have been reduced subsequent to the increase of separation allowances, and all decisions made prior to tho recent liberalising of the board's policy, with a, view of bringing thorn up to a standard providing reasonable* comfort tor soldiers' dependents.''

The chairman remarked that one of tho groat difficulties was tho delay m making payments. This had resulted in many cases of hardship. The league did not wish to: reflect on the personnel of the board, but tho official si do certainly wanted .looking into. .Tho difficulty applicants had in. securing information was also a groat drawback.

Mr Ryder contended that it was quite impossible for ono hoard sitting in Wellington to deal with the cases of thousands of soldiers. The board might do it with satisfaction to itself, but not to the soldiers. _ There should bo a board in 'eacTT'ceiitfe.'"'' "'

The chairman:, "Wo havo moved in that direction, but tro might reiternto our contentions." .

Mr Chapman said 'it was apparent that the Government was trying to cconoinise ; and in doing so tva s failing to administer the regulations. The league had to mako sure that having gained improvements they were actually enjoyed.

The motion, was agreed to unanimously.

OTHER RESOLUTIONS,

Ttho following motions wero oarricd practically without discussion:—"That the Wollintgon Second Division League notes with, approval that the Returned Soldiers' Association is considering approaching the Government with a sohomo for making the increases in allowances retrospnetive, formally affirme its agreemont with" .tho pi principle of retrospection and pledges '.'W support to any equitable proposals brought forward."—iMr Armstrong). "That the position relating to the granting of separation allowances to the widowed mothers of soldiers, in tho opinion of this league, is still unsatisfactory, and that Government be asked to amend tho regulations so that tho possession of property that is used as n home, or that is not in-come-earning fdiall not debar, irrespective of capital value, and that in cases whoro a widowed mother has more than ono son serving with the forces, she should bo onUtied to the

separation allowance in. tho game manner as if she, had only one son servingFurther, that as the War Pensions Act now places "the wicrowed mother, .it wholly dependent, on tbo_,same footing as a wife (without children), that the separation allowance also should be equivalent to that of a wife."—'Mr K.. Gandy). • ' "That Government slioujd fulfil tna promise made by' the Minister for Defence in Parliament that home service men'would receive the same separation allowances for thoir dependents as the men on active servic, and the leagua renews its request, made in April last, that thoso men on .homo service who are actually separated from their families .should receive payment at the increased fates."—Mr A. L- Moriteith. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The following were returned nnop. posed, as officers for the coming year: Pl-esident, Mr R. A. Armstrong; hon. secretary and treasurer, Mr*C. H. Chapman; committee, Messrs R. Brown, K. S. Gandy, E. Howell, H. Linklatcr, CM. Laird, 11. McGregor, T. Smith, W. J. Eibbins, R. G. Reed, J. H. Ryder, A*...W. Parton. H. F. Toogood, P. Johnson, D. P- Skinner, and J. F. Atkins. Replying to a note of thanks to the retiring officers, proposed by Mr A. A. Marryatt, the chairman said the league's slogan should be "Carry on." It was the duty of those who could not serve to carry on the work of the league. The people must rise to the occasion, and everyone" must make his little sacrifice. Hitherto there had been no sacrifices, except by the man who had to go. It was true some businesses had Been affected, but tho general prosperity of the country was greater than ever before. Ho very highly eulogized the work of the secretary, Mr Chapman, and added that, personally, ho was only too. pleased to do all in his .power to assist tho leagna in .its-aims.'.:;:;'7