RETURNED MEN'S PENSIONS

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21686, 21 January 1936, Page 7

RETURNED MEN'S PENSIONS

REPORT ON CONDITIONS IN ENGLAND DISCUSSION BY CHRISTCHURCH EXECUTIVE A report outlining the work that was being done by the British Legion in the granting of pensions to disabled soldiers was received at a meeting of the executive of the Returned Soldiers' Association last evening from Mr A. G. "Webb, head of the Pensions and Disablement Department in Great Britain. The chairman (Mr H. W. Mewton) said that the report did not concern what the men were "fighting for in New Zealand, but what they would get if they went Home. Mr W. H. Darby said that it had nothing to do with the problems which would have to be submitted to Mr F. N. Smith, the representative of the British Ministry for Pensions, when he visited New Zealand, though it showed that very good work was being done at Home. The report will be referred to the Imperial men's committee for consideration. It stated that through the United Services Fund during the last 10 years 30,000 men had been sent to convalescent homes at , the seaside after treatment for illness, and under the chronic sickness scheme some 40,000 men had been assisted during the last five years at a cost of £IOO,OOO. Since 1922, 1826 pensions had been awarded by the trustees of the Prince of Wales's British Legion Pension Fund. The pensions were paid only to men more than 50 years of age, and ceased when they became eligible for the Government's pension of 10s a week at the age of 65 or 70. The pension paid by the fund was also 10s a week, and was given to men whose financial position and health warranted it. Concessions were also obtained from the Unemployment Assistance Boards, and efforts were made to place men in employment. An appeal had been made, to which 23,749 firms had responded, and given employment to 320,888 ; disabled men. Grant to Home Service Men An application for assistance from a man who had been only on home service and had been discharged after contracting a disability at camp was granted. The case had been under consideration for some time, and it was stated that the man was a genuine case for assistance. He had applied again for enlistment eight months after he had been discharged, and had again been rejected. Mr W. E. Leadley said that the principle of bringing such cases before the executive individually was a safe one. Arrangements were confirmed' for holding the annual picnic at Motukarara on Easter Monday. Representatives of the suburban committees will be invited to attend a meeting of the picnic committee on January 23. Employment and Assistance Reports The report of the employment officer stated that there had been 1024 I registrations during the last four weeks, 12 new registrations, and 118 New Brighton registrations, making a total of 1154. Work by 207 men, totalling 271 days at a cost of £79 12s 2d, had been subsidised. A total of 30 days' work without subsidy had been found. Work subsidised included 10 days at the club and 14 days at New Brighton. The report of the general assistance committee for the same period stated that assistance had been given to men applying as follows:—Groceries. 77; coal, 17; miscellaneous, 10; total. 104. Two cases had been declined and four deferred. On December 20, Christmas orders for groceries and meat were granted to 75 distressed soldiers and their families and dependents. An application by the New Brighton sub-branch for permission to apply for a grant from an art union was acceded to. Committees to arrange for Anzac Day and Poppy Day were unpointed as follows:—Anzac Day, Mr Priddis (chairman), the Revr H. T. Read, Messrs Emerson, Darby, Chisholm and Orchard; and for Poppy Day, Mr Leadley Dr. Birkinshaw,

Messrs Mewton, Fleck, Haynes, Chisnall, and Priddis (ex officio). It was decided to send letters to the Canterbury Aero Club and to Mr W. M. CHara expressing appreciation for,all that had been done to make the day at the Wigram aerodrome a success. An invitation to attend a memorial service to Mrs Emma Jane Evans, of Cranford street, at the Edgeware Road Methodist Church on the evening of February 2, was accepted, and it was decided that as many members of the association as possible, as well as of the executive, should be present. It was mentioned that Mrs Evans was one of the first of the New Zealand nurses in active service although attached to an English division. A motion of sympathy with her relatives was passed on the motion of Mr A. L. Emerson-

Mr H. W. Mewton presided over the meeting in the absence of the president, Mr B. O. Priddis. Others present were: Messrs W. E. Leadley, Chas. Chisnall, E. Orchard, H. Fleck, A. L. Emerson, J. S. Chisholm, and W. H. Darby.