WAR PENSIONS BILL.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 15318, 4 August 1915, Page 2

WAR PENSIONS BILL.

. PASSED LOWER HOUSE. (ran* amocutigx rzLxmix.) WELLINGTON. August 3. The House of Representatives went into Committee this afternoon to consider the amendments mad© in tie "War Pensions Bill by the Defence (Secret) Committee. In Clause 2 the Committer proposed to omit the definition of "child"' and substitute the following:—"Child" means a dependent under the age of sixteen years, being a son. daughter, stepson, stepdaughter, or illegitimate child of a member of the forces, or a child legally adopted by such member before lie become a member of the forces." This was agreed to. I "Dependent," was defined as follows: | (a) The wito of a member of the forces at tJie time of his death or disablement ; (b) a woman v. ho becomes the wife of a member at any time before the expiry of twelve months after the date of his discharge, and wijo satisfies the Board that at the date of the departure of the member from New Zealand there wa s a "binding" contract to marry. subsisting between the member and such woman: (c) a woman wh<> bceomos the wife of a member of -The forces at any time before the erpiiy j of twelve months after the date of his ' discharge, and who satisfies the Board (1) th'it she is the mother of a child born to the member before the date of her marringe; (2) that such child was born either before or within nine months after the departure of the member from New Zealand: and (3) j that the child was living at the date of her marriage to the membor; (d) the ehil.lien of a member of the forces whether born before or after his death or disablement, and includes the children of a marriage solemnised after the disablement of the member as provided in cither paragraph (b) Or paragraph (c) hereof, but does not include the children of any other marriage i;»lem.nised after the disablement of the member, or illegitimate children born to him after the expiry of ten ir.onthe_ from the date of )ris departure from Now Zealand: and (c) any other membor of his family who was in fact wholly or in part dependertt upon his earnings at any time witfain the period of twelve months immediately preceding the date u]>on which ho becime b member of the forces. In the discussion that followed ex- 1 ception was taken to the word "binding'' contract to marry, the oonten tion of Mr Wilford being that there was no such thing as a binding contract to marry. It would, he said, be giv<>n some technical interpretation by the Board which would deprive many wives of their pensioner. Tho Hon. A. L. Heruman said he did not particularly caro whether the word wa« struck out or not. but lie thought its retention would strengthen the position. On a division being taken, the word was retained by 32 vote s to 25. Dr. Thacker wanted the clause extended to include New Zealanders now serving in tho Imperial forces, but the Minister objected to opening the door so wide, and the clause was passed as proposed. A new clause was agree<l to granting 10s per week a 8 additional pension to a wounded soldier requiring tho services of an attendant, so long as the Board is satisfied that the services of an attendant are indispensable, and that tlie member is not possessed of means to pay for such services. The clauses previously proposed to secure pensions to wives of mem bp r;' of tho Maori Contingent were passed. A new clause was also added providing pensions for parents of deceased soldiers whose means may in future become inadequate. The Bill was then reported from Committeo as amended. On the motion for tho third reading. Mr Isitt said he did not wish it to go out to the world that the provision in the Bill was all tho Parliament of New Zealand prepared to do for tho men who had gone out to fight for us. No gold could repay them for what they had done, and he hoped when the financial position of the country rendered it possible, the House would recognise what was due to our wounded soldiers, and increase the pension to disabled men to £2 per weok. Mr Webb protested against, the limitations in the Bill. Every soldier, he contended, should be placed on an equal footing so far as marriage was concerned, and the country was rich enough to pay more liberal pensions. The Bill was then read a third time and passed. In moving tho adjournment of tho House till 2.30 p.m. tomorrow. Mr Mnssoy congratulated the House on the passing of such an important measure.