SECOND DIVISION LEAGUE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17324, 25 May 1918, Page 8

SECOND DIVISION LEAGUE

CONTINUATION OF THE CONFERENCE. Q®«* U MIT ED PVESS ASSOOIATIO*.) WELLINGTON, May 24. At.tins morning's sitting of (lie Second '"n! 0 " , 3'° 1U! eonferenco it was resolved — lnat this conference, realising that unless and until tiio existing system lio altoi"<(, the present, maintenance of soldiers' homos aud the standard' of living of dependents arc governed by the policy of the Soldiers' financial Assistance Board, again urge as air absolute and immediate necessity (lie liberalising of the board's policy to the extent that grants shall be mule covering such recurring obligations as will ensure to eaen wife a clour net minimum income of 5 ... wo *'k, or £109 4s per annum with cuiluren s allowances extra." , note appended to the motion reads:— .u n.- • ani ' s present policy, us stated by the Minister of Defence, is to provide for a net minimum income of £90 per annum, or il 14s 6rl per week, to moot the bare tood and clothing of the wife only. The above proposal would moan an increnso in tno board s minimum of £'19 4s ner an mini, or 7s 6d per week—say, Is a dav extnvto provide for emergencies or comforts over and above the bare living existenco which is allowed for at present." The committee appointed by the conference yesterday to go into the question of land for settlement for returned soldiers reported to-day as follows"( 1) That ns a general principle this conference consider s?i i erc skiers are desirous of being settled on land, improved land should be utilised. (2) That only completely fit men should be settled on backbloeks and unimproved land. (3) That in the opinion of this conference an aggregation of Crown land has taken place and is taking place; furthermore, this conference consider that the Government should inquire closely into these cases, with a view t-o such aggregated land being made available for soldiers' settlement. (4) That with a view to making swamp lands, bush land, land requiring reclamation, lands requiring irrigation, grim lands, eto., available for soldiers settlements, the Public Works Department, the Lands Department, and the proposed Repatriation Department should co-operate in utilising the labour of returned soldiers for this purpose." Resolutions were passed that the Government be requested to speed up the purchase of land for returned soldiers, and an + ■ il aVOUr ma de to settle men in districts to which they belonged; that tho oonferenee urges that only land suitable for close settlement and immediato production be purchased for soldiers, and suggests that the farms of men called ud for military service bo secured when suitable. +i i. j ll . same time remedy *+u , caused to many soldiers by >be sale of their properties at a loss. The question of calling another conference to consider the Minister's replies to the league's requests was left in the hands of the executive. Tho conference has concluded. FURTHER INTERVIEW WITH THE MINISTER. THE MINISTER'S REPLY. After tho close of the conference a deputation representing the delegates had a further interview with the Acting Prime Minister and other members of the Ministry, placing before them the more important remits adopted, and asking Cabinet to Q ? lvo them careful consideration. Sir James Allen ? in reply, assured the deputation of the Government's sympathy with their efforts to secure the best possible conditions for the soldiers and their nependents. Resolutions presented to him by the league that day and the previous day would be placed before a full meeting of Cabinet in 'the immediato future. He had already told the delegates that he regarded an effective settlement of the repatriation problem as more important to soldiers and dependents than any increase of separation allowances. He had not changed his opinion that the present basis of the Financial Assistance Board's work was a just one, and that the net minimum income of £90 per year for a wife alone was a fair basis on which to work. Questions of finance and policy were involved, and all he could say at that stage was that Cabinet would go into the whole question fully and promptly. Ho would give the representatives of tho league a definite reply within a day or two. The only reason why tho league's requests had not come before Cabinet tha-t day was that a full attendance of Ministers could not be secured. The repatriation scheme placed before him, also a scheme for the conservation of small businesses contained valuable suggestions, which he was very glad to receive. He had not had time to consider these proposals fully or go into 'the question raised by the recommendation regarding CI men, but he could assure the deputation that nil points would be considered. Ministers had not been inactive regarding the great problems that had to be faced! They had given long and anxious thought to most of the matters mentioned by the deputation. The Minister of Lands tolct tho deputation he was very glad to receive suggestions regarding the provision of land for soldiers. The matter had already received a great deal of attention from himself and officers of the Land Department, and the problems of the league followed very closely the lines of action that liad already been 'traced. UNDER A MISAPPREHENSION. MEMBERS IGNORANT OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE BOARD'S WORK. (Fbom Oub Own Cohrf.spohdbwt) WELLINGTON, May 24. The Second Division League Conference closed to-day with the moderate section in command. The extremists are discredited, and in future there should be less noise from the Second Division League. It is a fact that there have been- members of the conference here who have said that they have been absolutely under a misapprehension as to what the Government is really doing for the dependents of Second Division men. Some have gone so far as to say nrivately that if they had known what was being done by the Financial Assistance Board they would not have been wasting days in Wellington in tho conference, if they will state their real opinions to the members of their own branches this conference will have achieved some real good.