HOME SERVICE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 194, 18 August 1942, Page 6

HOME SERVICE

WAR PENSIONS QUESTION i»r:i* t■ t. vi ion to minister Il ' \ 1 W I I 1.1 M ;Ti >\. Mon,|a\ . I 'I M'n i '"ii iif war | iei isions for II •"11 " 1 "I i ii.- Intlii.- service forces. " 11 ' 1 i| l 1 Ik- 111 urn- (Juanl. who -n"er injury while proceeding to or l" 1 " 1 parade-; or leave, formed the .n 1 111 jeii of a deputation to the Minisler o| I 'el cure. Mr. Jones, from the I '"minion executive committee of ' lie' nrncd Services' Association. ■ tales a repi i t supf>lied by the execuii \e eon mi it tee. The deputation submitted the following resolution: "That disability '•'eculent or sickness) oecti'Ting (I) while wit.iin the boundaries of a i amp. w bet her on duty or not. (2) at other time while actually on duty lor going to or returning fr< in dui\i. CP when actuallv proceeding mi or returning from leave, and i D in an\ other ease il it can be shown thai the condition was caused or Aggravated by their service, should Conic under the War Pensions Act." The deputation stated that the association appreciated the Government s action in setting up a special committee to consider some of the eases under the headings outlined In the association's resolution. In some of the cases considered bv j Uiis special committee the equivalent oi the lull war pension and other privileges had been granted as compensation. |

J In- a.ssi ciiition felt that the Government had recognised the prin ciple that these men were entitled to adequate recompense and it failed to see why this could not he done through the War Pensions Board. The Minister, replying, said there narl hern a large number of incidents suffered by men going to or returnin/? irom parades. The question of war pensions for Home Guardsmen and territorials had been receiving jhe consideration of the Government. The War Pensions Board had stated that such injuries were not attributable to service in the forces. The Government had considered there was hardship in some or the cases and therefore appointed a committee to go into the matter. The Minister further stated that the cases of injury of home service men while on leave being left to the War Pensions Board was a policv matter for Government decision. If it were decided that men travelling on furlough with a warrant meeting with an accident were eligible fcr the war pension these cases would automatically come within the scope ot the War Pensions Board. There were c»lot of difficulties to be considered, however, before a decision could be made. The Minister promised that the representations would be ,borne in mind when the matter was being considered.