WAR PENSIONS APPEALS

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21088, 13 February 1934, Page 3

WAR PENSIONS APPEALS

CASES BEFORE THE BOARD MR E. F. WILLCOX RECEIVES CONGRATULATIONS Highly appreciative references to the work done by Mr E. F. Willcox, secretary of the Christchurch Returned Soldiers' Association, at the recent sittings of the War Pensions Appeal Board in Christchurch, were made at the meeting of the executive of the association last night. It was reported that of the 63 appeails 31 had been upheld, 30 dismissed, and two had been deferred. The chairman (the Rev. F. T. Read) said that after the long time that had elapsed since the cessation of hostilities it was most gratifying that 50 per cent, of the appeals had been upheld. The longer the time elapsed since the war the more difficult it was to get the evidence necessary to ensure the success of appeals. It must be very gratifying to the appellants that so many of them had been successful in establishing their claims, he said. He felt that it would react advantageously on the association, because the successful appellants must spread it abroad that it had been very largely through the associaI lion's representative, Mr E. F. Willcox, that they had been successful. The work relating to the War Pensions Appeal Board was the most important and the most satisfactory- undertaken by the association. A Difficult Job Mr W. E. Leadley said that he agreed with the chairman's remarks. He moved: "That the executive place on record its great appreciation of the valuable services of the secretary in getting so large a percentage of appeals upheld." Mr G. A. Dabourn seconded the motion and said that the association should be very proud of the work of the secretary. Mr H. Fleck sail that the success achieved emphasised the present and future need for the association. Some said that the association had outlived its usefulness, but the work with the War Pensions Appeal Board showed that its work was only starting. The motion was carried. Mr Willcox thanked the speakers for their kindly remarks. The appeal board work was a branch of the activi- j ties of the association, and he was, to I a great extent, in trie hands of the appellants, who were able to provide j the evidence, or put him in the way of getting it. Without the evidence the cases could not be upheld, and the sifting of the evidence was an important factor in placing cases before the board. Several letters of thanks from successful appellants were read. . ' ■ ■ . I