FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE BOARD.

Otago Witness, Issue 3352, 12 June 1918, Page 38

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE BOARD.

SECOND DIVISION LEAGUE TAKES AOiION. WELLINGTON, June 6. At a meeting of the National Executive of tiie Second Division League this evening the policy of the Soldiers' Financial Assistance Board was fully discussed, and it was decided to withdraw Lho league's representative oh the board for the reasons set forth in the following manifesto: — I.—That whereas it has been clearly laid down by the National Government through the Acting Prime Minister and the Minister of Defenco that in the making of grants of financial assistance the wife of a soldier shall not be penalised because her personal earnings from employment, for the reason that the Government wishes to encourage the wives of soldiers to take up occupations during their husbands' absence on service ;

2.—That as the highest employment of womanhood and of the greatest value to the nation is motherhood anjd the proper upbringing of children who axe to make the future citizens; 3.—That as complete maternal control is more than ever necessary in view of the absence of parental control, owing to the war service of the father; 4. —That as the wife of a soldier, being the mother of young children, cannot take employment and at the same time properly attend to her home and. upbringing of her children ; s.—That whereas the National Government laid it down as tho policy of the Financial Assistance Board that the wife only of a soldier whose pre-cnlistment earnings were £l6O per annum or under shall receive such grant of financial assistance as will give her a nett minimum income of £9O nor annum clear of recurring obligations ;

6.—That whereas tho Second Division League, in a case recently investigated and published, showed that the wife of a reservist with one- child (pro-enlistment income £169 per annum) lias been made a grant by tho Financial Assistance" Board, leaving her and her child jointly a total sum of £94 only per annum, thus depriving; her almost entirely of the value of her child's separation allowance; 7.—That whereas an official attempt has been made through the press to justify this action by comparing the pre-cnlistment earnings of the husband, this, taken with tho policy of the board as affecting wives with children as laid down by the Minister, appears to indicate that its function is* to keep the wives and children of soldiers on tho lowest possible 6cale compatible with their pre-enlistment position instead of reasonably improving their condition as a reward for the sacrifices demanded of them by the State; ■ B.—That as this appears to the league clearly to indicate that the policy as laid down by the. National Government does not recognise the- sacred calling of motherhood as an employment worthy of tho greatest encouragement, and that the children's separation allowances, recently increased bv the Government, are to be nullified and tho benefits thereof, SO loudly proclaimed, rendered abortive;

Wherefore in view of the foregoing and the fact that the minimum not income of £9O for "wife only," approved by the Government as the board's policy, is not sufficient income, having regard to the hisrh cost of living, the 'onnrue regrets thnt after consultation with its representative on the board, it cannot accent the; responsibility of being officially identified with an institution which is hamnerodi bv its.present policy, and which, in effect, is militating against the league's just cause—securing adequate living, conditions and reasonable comfort for the wives, children, and other dependents of soldiers.