MEN OF 2ND N.Z.E.F.

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23918, 9 April 1943, Page 4

MEN OF 2ND N.Z.E.F.

RETURNED SERVICEMEN’S ASSOCIATION CHRISTCHURCH BRANCH PROPOSED The 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force Association, which was nearly two years ago with only 15 members, now has mpre than 2000 re turned servicemen of this war as members, and a large number of nonorary members, who are next-of-Kin of men serving overseas. There are 15 branches of the association, and lou in • process of formation. This mation was given last evening by the Dominion president of the association (Mr E. L. Thwaites, of Auckland), who is visiting Christchurch to form a branch in the city. Mr Thwaites, who is a solicitor, served in the last ‘war, and in this war in the Pacific. He said that although the association was only 2000 strong, its members were of every rank from lieutenant-colonel to private, and held every decoration from the Victoria Cross down. Mr Thwaites said that the association had been formed because the war had been going for more than two years, and nothing had been done to improve the conditions of returned men, which were worse than those of men who had returned from the last war, Returned men in this war were facing problems which men from the last war did not have to face. This time they had come back to a country where every pocket was closed, and to the official charity of the patriotic funds which was practically non-existent as far as the returned man was concerned. "The promises and undertakings of the Government were excellent, but in practically every case they have not been carried out, either from departmental inefficiency or incapacity,” said Mr Thwaites. "In desperation we just had to form our own association.” Mr Thwaites said the association already had remedied some of the evils. The mufti allowance for returned men had been raised from £7 10s to £l2 10s, and now the association was asking that it should be raised to £4O. The association had proposed the replacement of the Pensions Act by a War Services Compensations Act, for which' a basic rate of £5 10s a week for 100 per cent, disability or disablement was proposed as a mininjum in place of the £2 provided in the old act. Compensation Boards Mr Thwaites said the association was demanding that the pensions appeal boards as at present constituted should be abolished, and that four compensation boards should be established in the main centres. It was proposed that they should consist of a Judge of the Supreme Court, or a senior Magistrate, and two assessors, one to be appointed by the Government. and one by the 2nd N.Z.E.F. Association.

It was also suggested that doctors should be ineligible to sit on the boards and that all evidence given by them should be on oath and that the applicant should have the right to call evidence in rebuttal. Another suggestion was that soldiers' widows should receive £3 10s a week, and each child £1 a week, and that a mother’s extra earnings should not be deducted from her pension. Referring to his association’s relations with the New Zealand Returned Services’ Association, Mr Thwaites said the fullest co-operation had been offered. but Dominion headquarters up*tp the present had not shov n that spirit of co-operation and help already shown by many R.S.A. branches, which

.jl-stW were actively assisting and ® UI w new 2nd N.Z.E.F. branchea., r o»« “The association has be- P|j ef W ed by all sorts of political P j n g : its support, but we* ire "° ly ( o r?s be used by any P° •lical P a '^ itc3 . 1 tical purposes,” said Mr Th' are going to use evcry con method to see tnt ' c jjeiore charily is he": for die me war is over.” .‘.-i