PENSIONS REVIEWED.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 159, 7 July 1926, Page 8

PENSIONS REVIEWED.

DISCUSSION IN HOUSE. BETTER TREATMENT OF MINERS URGED. . * NECESSITOUS RETURNED SOLDIERS (By Telegrapb. — Parliamentary Reporter.) j WELLINGTON, Tuesday, j The greater portion of this afternoon's ' session was occupied in a general discussion on pensions, follow-ing on the tabling of a special report by the Minister of Pensions (Hon. G. J. Anderson). Mr. W. E. Parry (Auckland Central) j urged that pensions paid to the blind and aged should be increased by 2/6 a week, thus coming into line with Australia, , which we could well afford to do, a • maximum of £100,000 being involved. Mr. R. McKean (Wellington South): Very much less. Mr. Parry went on to say that the Minister of Pensions and the Prime Minister had talked a great deal about invalidity pensions. People who cannot earn their own living through illness have to live somehow, and the State should face the position fairly and squarely. Although he knew the Minister was not sympathetic, Mr. Parry appealed to him to incresae the miners' pension. If he would not raise the pension, he should at least raise that payable to the widow to the same standard as the amount received by a single man.

Mr. W. A. Veitch (Wanganui) referred to the question of attributability in connection with the payment of pensions to returned soldiers. There were, in his electorate, a number of men who had broken down in health, yet they were outside the scope of the pensions system, because they could not .attribute their condition directly to war service. He believed a new position was developing, because a great many returned men had been only slightly gassed, and were now breaking down as the result. This position should be faced. Pensions for occupational diseases should also receive consideration. Miners' Phthisis. Mr. H. E. Holland, Leader of the Opposition, made lengthy reference to miners' pensions, pointing out that the victim of miners' phthisis, with a family to support on 35/ a week, was in a very difficult position. He received no allowance on account of his wife and children, yet lie was threatened with the loss of his pension if he did any work. There was the strongest possible case for paying to these men a pension that would make it possible for them to live in a decent standard of comfort during the few years that remained ere death claimed them. V.D. Sufferers. "Don't wait till these men are dead! Let us do something for them while tihey are alive," said Mr. A. Harris (Waitemata), in urging that returned soldiers suffering with venereal disease should not be left to suffer, without assistance of any kind. Not only had the Government denied these men pensions—they had also denied them treatment. The reason advanced was tihat the disease was not due to war service. "That is not what one expects from the Parliament of New Zealand," said Mr. Harris. '"It is of no use shutting our eyes to the fact —ttiese men were brought to their present unfortunate position by reason of the fact that they went to fight overseas. (Hear, hear, from Labour benches.) They left Mew Zealand in good health. To-day we should not seek to evade responsibilities by arguing that these men brought their condition on tlhemselves. Most of the patriotic associations are doing nothing for these men, taking up the stand that they will not give assistance to men who have been refused pensions, although the sum of £1,631,000 was held last year by patriotic societies. Money from this big fuud should be made available for the unfortunate men who were suffering from the disease, whioli tliey had contracted abroad. Mr. E. J. Howard (Christohuroh South) congratulated -Mr. Harris on his outspokenness. War Funds Not For Pensions. Sir John Luke (Wellington North) said that as chairman of the War Funds Council he wanted to point out that the patriotic funds were never subscribed for the purpose of paying pensions to soldiers. The funds were subscribed in order that additional relief might be afforded. The suggestion that patriotic funds be used to relieve the Government of a responsibility was not a fair one. Minister of Defence Replies. The Minister of Defence (Hon F. J. Rolleston), replying to the member for Waitemata stated that there were not many venereal disease eases, and in any event their consideration was barred by a clause in the Act wlrich stated that if there was wilful misconduct a pension was not obtainable. "Why not alter the Act?" asked a member.

The Minister replied that the term "wilful misconduct" occurred in the WoTkers' Compensation Act, so that if it were struck out it would cause wide complications. He assured the House that tJhe Returned Soldiers' Association was well satisfied with the work of the War Pensions AppeaJ Board.