SOLDIERS' PENSIONS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 237, 6 October 1936, Page 6

SOLDIERS' PENSIONS.

W. Malfcby's letter accuses the New Zealand returned soldier of 'being a grouser, and further states that the Tommies only received a shilling per day, and did they grouse? Oh, no! Did their wives grouse? No, again! I was 111 England for over twelve months after; being minced up in France, and' during that twelve months I heard quite a lot of grousing as regards the Tommy's pay,- etc. Has Mr. Maltby noticed that of late quite a number of letters have appeared in the papers from ex'-Imperial soldiers re their pensions? Is it that they have, too, caught that grousing malady since coming to New Zealand? I can only say this: Had they groused a little more instead of taking it lying down perhaps they would he in a better position to-day as regards pensions. I am a fine advertisement, for the last war. One-half of my body is artificial. Lumps of metal are still in my 'back. My age is forty-five, I look fifty-five and feel at times about sixty. And yet I am not sorry I went. It is only when I read letters like the one written by "Noel" that one just wonders. The allowance for ■and children of disabled soldiers is suppoAxl. to he: Wife, £1 per week and 10/ for each child. It looks very nice in print, but the Pensions Department has a way of wangling it, and our recent rise is still far short of the above amount. I have given it up as a hopeless puzzle. As a matter of fact, I know of two cases where although prior to the rise in pensions the recipients were not getting the amount due to them, since the increase was granted their payments have decreased in one case 5/, in the other 2/11 per week—an Irishman's rise. So I give it up and to "Digger" Broad I say good luck and mav he succeed —as I feel sure he will. TWELVE BAR.