SOLDIERS AND PENSIONS.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 183, 4 August 1919, Page 11

SOLDIERS AND PENSIONS.

QUESTIONS OF RESTRICTIONS. DEPUTATION TO CABINET. (By Telegraph.—'Press Association.) WELLECGTOX, Saturday. The Executive Council of the New Zealand Keturncd Soldiers' Association met members of the Cabinet to-day to discuss questions arising from the last conference of the association. The Ministers present were Sir James Allen, the Hon. \V. D. S. Mac-Donald, the tlon. \V H. Herries, Sir William Fraser, the lion. G. W. Russell, and the Hon. D. Ht Guthiie. Sir James Allen said it was gratifying to see the spirit shown by the returned men in regard to rehabilitating the country. He thought they were wiee ; not to be a political J>ody, but at the same time he knew that if some of them law their way to stand for Parliament, and were returned, their services would be welcomed. He regretted deeply there was no such as they proposed in existence outside Parliament and independent of Parliament to advise on questions which Ministers were too fully occupied to consider. Regarding the restriction on pensions, he had not been in favour of disabled men marrying outside New Zealand. He had nothing to say against the marriages that had taken place, but he thought at the time that some scheming woman might marry a soldier for the pension he would get.' If the restriction were now removed would there not tie a claim for retrospection? .Mr. J. l>. Harper: >;o.—We agree to its dating only from the time ot legislation. Sir James Allen said he was willing to submit to the Cabinet the question of, removing this restriction, and also that on a marriage within two years, as it affected pension eligibility. Regarding the minimum jjension to totally disabled men, the Board now made grants of £4 and £5. ilr. Harper: The supplementary pension is governed by pre-war earnings. We want to make it definite. Sir James Allen said it was a matter of policy which would be considered, but in view of what the Board was now doing, he did not think they had made out a strong case. He would submit to the Cabinet the question of a seven years' limitation. Continuing, Sir .Tames said he had hoped to have a statement from ilr. D. Seymour regarding those allowances which they thought should be retrospective. Mr. Seymour said they wanted the principle applied subject to certain limitations. They would not compromise on principle and where they did compromise it would be a question ot expediency. Sir James Allen said he wanted to know what the bill was to be. The Government had not settled war gratuities, and that must depend upon what they had to meet in other directions. In regard to the promise to provide for dependents.t as soon as he knew tha men with six or seven children were going he stopped it. Allowances were not made earlier in order that single men might first be sent. In reply to a question, members of the deputation said they wished children's allowances to be considered before gratuities. Sir Jameis Allen said all would be considered together. He thought the Government had made fair provision for the widowed mother. 3lr. Curtayne: For the -widowed mother of a married man there is fair provision, but not for a single man. Sir James Allen said the question would be considered. As to Venereal disease, he did not see why there should be any difference betwen the civilian, and the soldier. The Hon. W. H. Herries said all the questions submitted would be considered carefully. He believed the success of repatriation work had teen almost entirely dne to the boards 6et up in different centres. There had never been any friction betwen them and the Ministerial board policy of decentralisation had proved a very wise one. The (Hon. "W. D. S. Mac Donald expressed appreciation of the way in which the soldiers submitted their requests. The Hon. G. W. Russell said the Cabinet had decided that it did not at present gee any necessity for a Royal Commission to inquire regarding patriotic fund?. Such a commission, if set iip, would have a huge task, which would take two or turee years if the whole of the patriotic funds of the Dominion were to be inquired into. The Government desired only to see that the funds Were used according to law for the purpose for which they were raised. The Government had no power to compel societies to use funds for the purpose for which they wer raised. It could only see they were not used for other purposes. He was compelled in 1917 to withdraw the compulsory clauses of the Social Hygiene KIL but wae satisfied that at the first session when the question could be considered, these clauses must be reinstated. He gave an assurance that soldiers would oot be treated differently from civilians. The Hon. D. H. Guthne made a brief statement in reply to representations regarding the land policy. He had prepared a statement, he said, which he was sending to Mr. Seymour, setting out the Government's position in regard to the whole matter. This was in readines for the return of Mr. Massey, so that alterations in policy could be considered in the hght of experience. i