GRATUITIES.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16699, 6 December 1919, Page 8

GRATUITIES.

ANOMALIES POINTED OUT.

The I'cv. W. Walker, a member of tho Hcturned Soldiers' Association's deputation to the Prime Minister yesterday, brought under Mr Masscy's notice several anomalies in connexion with the payment of soldiers' gratuities. The first case was that of a man, severely wounded, who on his return io the Dominion, "»vas treated as an outpatient for twelve weeks, and was subsequently treated as an in-patient for fourteen months; as a result, ho was debarred from receiving the two years' minimum gratuity. Ihe other case was that of a soldier who had.made the supreme sacrifico; ho was an illegitimate child, and bad beon brought up by a woman to whom ho had niado bis allotment, and willed all that was bis— which was not much; tho woman did not apply for a pension, but on applying for tho gratuity had been informed that as her case was not covered by tho regulations, slio was not entitled to tho gratuity. Mr Massev: I'm afraid it is not coTercd by the Act. Mr Walker admitted that it was not possible to avoid anomalies, but both Mr Mas-ey and J?ir James Allen had stated again and again that individual i-as'-s of hardship would bo considered, and considered in a very generous spirit. The Association recommended that, a Board of Appeal should be set up in cach railitarv district, to go into such cases as thoso he had cited: it might be pos.-ibl«3 to appoint a committoo from the Kr>patnation Board in each di>trict- to deal with theeo matters. and make recommendations to the Minister of Defence. Mr Massey said that he would harp the cases cited bv Mr Walker looked into to cee if anything could bo done. | He ha*! a great deal of sympathy for I them, but be was afraid they wero not I provided for by law.