PENSION BOARD METHODS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 66, 17 March 1916, Page 7

PENSION BOARD METHODS.

IXVIDIOUS TREATMENT ALLEGED. (By Telegraph.-Special to "Star.") MASTERTOX, this day. The methods of the Pensions Board came in for critcism at a meeting of tne Wairarapa War Fund Association. Mr. J. T. M. Hornsby, M.P., in introducing Private Sewell, of Carterton. who is a, returned soldier, referred to the methods employed liy the Pensions Board Mr. Hornsby said it seemed to him that the Board was not dealing in a proper manlier with returned soldiers. Scwi-Il had been seriously wounded. His leg was inljured, and he would probably never, aaain he titled to follow his ordinary, avocation; yet he received only £2 A/i> per month for six months. Mr. Hornsby | thought that the Association should ex-1 press" an opinion concerning; the manner j !in which the Pensions Board was treat | I in" soldiers. i Mr. W. Howard Booth thought there was a screw loose somewhere. Ho ! pointed to a case where a man in a better ! position than Sewell was receiving 30/ per week. Mr. Whatman: If a horse on our farm goes lame, we give him a spell—not so i the returned soldier. He has to work. ( Hear. hear.l Mr Hornsby pointed out tliat returned j soldiers were being differently treated.: One man. a painter, who was capable of, working, received 30/ a week, while an- j other, who could not work, received only j 10/ per week. The whole thing was I wrong in principle. Pensions should be granted as of right. Sir Walter JJiielianan eaid be did not ; think that in the cafe of Sewell it should , Ibe necessary to wait for six months bei fore it was reviewed. I Mr. W. 11. Booth mentioned a ca?e ill ! which a returned soldier had for three ' ' months been fruitlessly endeavouring to procure his deferred pay. Meanwhile he I was pouring out liie grievances to young ! men who should be enlisting. This was j i not good for recruiting. ! I After further discussion it was decided 'that £1 per week be paid to Sewell until such time as his case had been reviewed by the Pensions Board, and that the executive, after receiving a report from the Carterton sub-committee, tak" the matter up with the Pensions Board , with a view to having the case reviewed j forthwith. It was decided to report the ' matter to the coming conference of I Patriotic Societies, , . • ■ v