SOLDIERS' PENSIONS

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22375, 12 April 1938, Page 15

SOLDIERS' PENSIONS

to tbb Borrom or trb press. Sir, —In 1931, the full economic soldier's pension was 30s. This was cut to 27s and later to 21s. Of course these cuts were an economic expression of gratitude towards men who, between 1914-1918 lost that percentage of physical fitness through wounds, sickness, . etc., while contributing towards keeping a roof over the heads of the powers that be, and their so-called gratitude earned for them its just reward. The "Elector" of 1935 has a passage in it, stating that all cuts in salaries, wages, and pensions were to be restored to the 1931 level. As far as I can gather 2s 5d is not 7s sd, but only a portion of the increased cost of living, and this is election year again. Is a member of the Government allowed to make, statements in the form of promises to obtain votes when he has no intention of fulfilling those promises? May I commend this to our local members of the Government and express a hope that the economic pension be increased to 35s to cover increased cost of living, and made retrospective as from January, 1936. Then the statement in the "Elector" will come true and not be an untrue statement as at present. Then we can light the fire with a good paper and look forward to this year's edition. I presume the money would come from the same source as that to be paid to aged people of 10 years' residence (with all due respect to these people). In conclusion, may I state my late mother was born in New Zealand about 80 years ago.— Yours, etc., DISGUSTED. April 9, 1938.