WAR PENSIONS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 251, 31 July 1940, Page 3

WAR PENSIONS

THE NEW ZEALAND SCALE.

MOST LIBERAL IN EMPIRE (Abridged from Press Association). WELLINGTON, July 26. Moving the second reading in the House to-day of the War Pensions Amendment Bill and the \\ ar Pensions Extension Bill, the two measures being taken simultaneously, the Minister of Defence (the Hon. F. J ones.) said that the total cost of war pensions since the original Act was passed in 1915' amounted to £29,524,336. When the Act was first placed on the Statute Book, said Mr Jones, a private soldier totally disabled with a wife and one child received £2 12s 6d a week. To illustrate the improvement made in the legislation during the ensuing 25 years, a private soldier in similar circumstances was now paid £5 a week. He believed that the New Zealand Act, in conjunction with the War Veterans Allowance Act, was the most liberal in the British Empire. The number of war pensioners and war veterans to-day, Mr Jones said, was 25,923, the annual payment amounting to £1,886,537. Although many soldiers bad passed away and many of their dependents no longer were eligible for benefits, the increases made in pensions generally had been such that the cost was now approximately the same as in 1921, which was the peak year, payments then totalling £1,886,952. The question of the rehabilitation of the men who had gone overseas was receiving the consideration of the Government .Elvery soldier who came back from overseas would be medically examined, even to the extent of an X-ray, so that the authorities could be sure that when a man was discharged lie would be fit. Referring to the War Pensions Extension Bill, Mr Jones said that provision had been made in respect to pension payments for men who had been sent Home to join any of the armed forces of Great Britain. In the event of any of those men being granted a British pension that was 1 lower than the New Zeaand pension, the difference would he paid by New Zealand. The Minister emphasised the point that under the now legislation there was no restriction on dependents’ allowances as far as the date of the soldier’s marriage was concerned. The Hon. J. G. Cobbe (National, Manawatu) said all members’ would admit that too much could nob he done for the men who went away to light for their country and the Empire. The original War Pensions Act had been improved from time to time, and he was pleased that the Minister had been able to bring down further amendments. Mr S. G. Holland (National Christchurch North) said lie was not very satisfied with part three of the Bill which laid upon soldiers .on homo service the responsibility of proving disability. He would like, the Minister to reconsider the matter.

The Leader of t-lie Opposition (the Hon. Adam Hamilton) said the people of the country were willing to pay good pensions to soldiers Avho went to fight for them, but at the same time he would have liked to have heard the Minister, when outlining the proposals, give an estimate of what they were likely to cost. Mr Hamilton said he was pleased to hear the Minister say that a complete medical examination would be made of the men coming hack before they were discharged. He was not one who thought that they should he niggardly over allowances to ex-servicemen. He thought they should receive generous treatment. Both Bills were read a second time and ,after a brief discussions in committee, were read a third time and passed.