E.S.A. AFFAIRS.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18186, 24 September 1924, Page 6

E.S.A. AFFAIRS.

DEPUTATION TO MINISTER.

A deputation from tec Dominion Executive of the New Zealand E.S.A.. consisting of Messrs W. E. Leadley (Christchurch"), A. E. Laing (Dunedin), H. McKane (Greymouth\ M. W. Cummins (Christchurch), and S. J. Harrison (general secretary, Weliington), waited on Sir Hcaton Rhodes. Minister in Charge of War Pensions, on Monday with reference to several matters affecting the pensions of returned soldiers, which were not. covered by the War Tensions Amendment Act last session.

Mr W. E. Leadley, in opening, mentioned the cases of war widows who were married over two years after the soldier's discharge from the forces. He 'stated that at the present time, if a soldier who was suffering from a war disability married over two years after bis discharge from the Army, both he and his wife could receive a pension on

:iccouut- of the soldier's disablement. I If the soldier died, however, his widow was informed that she was not a riri pendent under the Art, and' her'peni sion was taken, away. The Departj ment, however, allowed such a widow p. gratuity equal to two years' pension. Mr Leadley urg?d that an amendment to the Act should, bo brought down I doing away with tins two years' limit, | and reminded the Minister that the recent Royal Commission on War Pensions had brought down a recommendation to the Government that this should be done. This recommendation, however, had not been given effect to. He I also urged that local committees should i bo established in each of _ the large I centres, consisting of one representaI tive of the Department, one representative ofi the E.S.A., with an independent chairman (say the chairman of the i Patriotic Fund"), the work of these committees to-consist-of receiving and investigating applications for economic pensions. He pointed out that during the last t-wche months there had been cases where returned soldiers had filled in application forms for the economic pension, and owing to the misunderstanding of the questions asked, had given wrong information, with the result that they had been prosecuted by the Department for false pretences. If local committees, such as he advocated, were established, they could make enquiries as to the man's circumstances, character, and ability \o work, and he ventured to state that there would be no more prosecutions for false pretences. These committees could also help ,in the ma.tter of finding employment for badly disabled soldiers. He pointed out that there was still a large number of disabled men in the country who, owing to their war disability, were unable to carry on their pre-war employment, and unable to obtain suitabio employment. The country owed a debt of honour to these men, which should be discharged. It ■was not fair to ask private employers to absorb them, as owing to their unfitness they could not do a full day's ■work, and could not be paid Arbitration Court rates. He urged that as far aspossible the Government should find suitable employment for these men, such as liftmen, messengers, caretakers, crossing-keepers, etc. Mr A. E. Laing (Duncdih) urged that the economic pension should be granted not only to mon whose pensions amount to £1 and over, but also to mon who were only -in 'receipt of 10s or. Los weekly, if the circumstances of the case -warrant the granting of an economic pension. The Association also desired that the functions of the War Pensions Appeal Board should be extended so- that- it would be possible for a pensioner to appeal against any decision of the War. Pensions Board. At the present time appeals could . only be lodged on two grounds: Firstly, that the assessment of the pension was not .correct; and, secondly, that the disability was due to war service. The Appeal Board could not at present consider appeals for the granting of economic pensions. With reference to the question of the supply cf artificial limbs, Mr Laing stated that the Department was at present carrying out a policy of centralisation in Wellington, which meant that amputees requiring to be fitted with the new McKay artificial limb would have to leave their occupation and journey to Wellington to have same fitted. This would cause considerable inconvenience and expense to the men concerned, and it was urged that the work of repairing and fitting artificial limbs should be executed in the four chief centres as heretofore, provided that the artificial limb workers made themselves proficient in ■ the new method of repairs. The Minister questioned the deputation at length regarding the various points raised, and after a good deal of informal discussion lie . stated that he I ■would refer the matters brought for- I ■ward to Cabinet for decision.