SOLDIERS' PENSIONS

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21808, 13 June 1936, Page 20

SOLDIERS' PENSIONS

TO THE EDITOR OP THE PRESS. Sir, —I should like to pay a tribute to the foresight and wonderful gifts of visionary powers displayed by Mr W. E. Leadley, of the Christchurch Returned Soldiers’ Association last Monday evening, when he was successful in having his motion carried by that body relating to returned soldiers under the new system of relief, particularly partially disabled men. As a former soldier’s son I am ashamed to see and hear of how some of these former soldier heroes are being treated, but now that we have some 24 returned soldier members in our House of Representatives I feel sure that these men will at last get their just reward, and I sincerely hope that before the delegates who are mentioned in Mr Leadley’s motion put their case before the Government, each one of these returned soldier members of Parliament will be circularised and requested to link themselves up with the delegation in one strong united front to our new Government. From what I have learned from time to time I have come to the conclusion that the returned soldiers who have been wounded and placed on a full permanent pension, or not below the amount which entitles them to the benefits of economic and dependents’ pensions, are not so badly off, especially when one comes to consider those men who are continually suffering the effects of ill-health due to gas and many other troubles caused through their war service, but are classed as only partially disabled and are granted temporary disability pensions too small to entitle them to the benefits of the economic and dependents’ pensions. For these men the Returned Soldiers’ Association and the Disabled Soldiers’ Committee try to secure some form of suitable light or part-time employment, but very often it is impossible to get it, and for these things, so far as I can see, these men are very, grateful. In comparison with what they have suffered and are still suffering for us, however, these things are not enough, for they are now getting old, and with the economic conditions as they are, these men are unable to stand up to a full day’s work against young and fit men. It seems to me that there are three ways in which we could help them. (1) Request the Government to create more permanent light work in the Government service for partially disabled soldiers, so that what they could earn and their small pensions would make up a decent standard of living. (2) Request the Government to subsidise all industry and business houses and pass legislation for the compulsory employment of disabled former soldiers on their permanent staff. (3) That, providing no suitable employment be found and that the former soldiers’ pension or veteran’s allowance is below the economic pension amount, it be* made up to the amount required for that economic concession to be granted. I am informed that these points mentioned are being worked in Australia and giving peace of mind and security to hundreds of war victims. —Yours, etc A DIGGER’S SON. June 12, 1936.