SECOND DIVISION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12065, 21 July 1917, Page 8

SECOND DIVISION.

THE WELLINGTON CONFERENCE.

DEPUTATION TO MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT.

[Pkr Pbess Association.] WELLINGTON, July 20.

Delegates from tho oonferenco of vho Second Division League waited oil members of Parliament to-day, and placed before, them the resolutions passed by tho conference regarding tho pay aud pensions of soldiers. iAbout fifty members were present, aud vhe meeting was presided over by Mr T. M. Wilford. M.P. It was decided that Messrs D. H. Guthrie. M.P., and G. W. Forbes, M.i'., should bo the permanent. channels of communication between the league and members or Parliament. and 'that tho Prime Minister, tho Minister of Finance and tho .Minister of Defence bo asksd to meet member? of Parliament and tho league at the round table conference. _ lief ore concluding, tho president oi the league said : l,; We are prepared to go to the bitter end in this struggle, and I wiJi undertake to havo a motion nassod to that effect."

DEPUTATION TO MR. MASSET. [PiIR PRESS Association•! WELLINGTON. July 20. The members of tho Second Division Conference waited on the Prime Minister this afternoon, and speeches wero made on the lines of vnoso made at the meeting with members oi Parliament in tho morning. Mr Masscy. replying, said that practically bo had no fault to lir.d with the views expressed. As to the request, for early examination of Second Division men ho could 88y that tho examination would be made as early as possible. Ihe Defence Department would give effect to tho promise he was making. The most, important point of nil was regarding dependents. If the men went their dependents would be considered to be, for the time being, wards of the State and the Stato would do it*, duty to them- The dependents would be" looked after. He was glad to notice that the British pensions scheme, the principles of which had been adopted by the conference, was particularly generous regarding tho question of financial ability. lie could not go into details at the moment but) he would say that what England was able to do for its soldiers New Zealand would be able to do for its. Parliament would have the question to deal willi later in tho session, long before the Second Division was called on l» go to the front. He hoped that he had always been in favour of pensions by right, but there had been difficulties in the way. When New Zealand passed its pension scheme that scheme was the most generous in tho Empire. Since then others had improved their .schemes and may be New Zealand should revise its scheme. Speaking generally he was in sympathy with the deputation. Ho not a rich man, but if every shilling he possessed wero needed for carrying: on the war it would be given willingly, and there were tens of thousands in New Zealand in the same frame of mind. Mr Armstrong; said that they were particularly anxious to know that these matters were settled before the Second D'Vision was called up. Mr Mn.ssoy : I don't think there need hj" any doubt about that. I wiil do my host in tint direction, but I cannot, mako a definite promise. IMMEDIATE MEDICAL EXAMINATION. COMMERCIAL TR A TELLERS' RESOLUTION. At a well-attended meeting of the Canterbury Commercial Travellers' and Warehousemen's Association in the club rooms last night, tho president (Mr A. Christie) submitted the following motion, which will come before kindred associations in other parts:— "That this meeting of the Canterbury Commercial Travellers' and Warehousemen's Association pledges itself to assist the Government in every way in its war work, and with that, end in 'viexv strongly urges upon the Government the necessity for the immediate medical examination of the Second Division as being of vital necessity to the well-being of the Dominion." The motion was seconded by Mr L. Rogers aud carried unanimously, and the secretary was requested to forward a copy to the Prime Minister.