WAR PENSIONS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 180, 31 July 1940, Page 9

WAR PENSIONS.

AMENDING BILLS.

PROVISION FOR FUTURE.

MINISTER'S EXPLANATION.

(By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.)

WELLINGTON, this day

The total cost of war pensions paid since the original Act was passed in 1915 amounts to £29,524,336. This information was given to the House of Representatives yesterday by the Minister of Defence, Mr. Jones, when moving the second reading of the War Pensions Amendment Bill and the War Pensions Extension Bill, both measures being taken simultaneously to save the time of the House.

The Minister explained that wlien the first bill was placed on the Statute Book a private totally disabled, with wife and one child, received £2 12/0 a week. To illustrate the improvement made in the legislation during the ensuing quarter of a century a private in similar circumstances to-day was paid £o week. He believed that the New Z aland War Pensions Act, taken in conjunction with the War Veterans Allowance Act, was the most liberal in the British Empire. The latter measure, which had been parsed in 1935, had provided for men who had broken down after their return tc New Zealand, their disability being due to war service.

The highest peak in payments under the pensions legislation was reached in 1921 when war pension payments reached the sum of £1,886,952, the Minister said. To-day the number of war pensioners and war veterans was 25,923, the annual payment amounting to £1,880,537. Although many soldiers had passed away since the original Act was passed, and many of their dependents were no longer eligible for benefits, the increases made in pensions generally had been such that the cost now was approximately the same as in 1921. Rehabilitation. "The question of the rehabilitation of the men who have gone overseas in the present war is receiving the consideration of the Government," continued Mr. Jones. "We must make adequate provision for them either in respect to employment or medical treatment. One of the difficulties experienced in respect to the Great War was the question of disability after the men returned, due to war service. When the men got back they were glad to be taken into civil occupations and did not feel much concern at the time as to the state of their health.

"Better provision is to be made in connection with this war," he added. "We are going to see that every soldier who comes back from overseas is medically examined, even to the extent of the X-rays, so that we can make sure that when a man is discharged he is fit. We must know what is his state of health when he returns from the front." ' Men Sent Home. Referring to the War Pensions Extension Bill, the Minister 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 lower than the New Zealand pension, the difference would be paid by the Dominion. The bill did not make provision, however, for men who had gone Home on their own account, but it was a position that could be faced.

The Minister emphasised the point that under the new legislation there was no restriction on dependents' allowances as far as the date of the soldier's marriage was concerned.

In reply to Mr. Richards (Government —Roskill), the Minister said there was no provision for the adoption of children after the departure of the soldier for overseas. In respect to military service in New Zealand, disability had to be proved, but that did not apply to disability suffered overseas. Why The Difference? Mr. Holland (National —Christchurch North): Why has a man in New Zealand to prove his case and not the man overseas f The Minister said that the Government assumed responsibility few the man who left New Zealand, but with a man who was in the Territorial Force he might be injured in the course of his civil occupation, or at sport. If he were injured during training the responsibility would rest with the Government.