DECISION ON WAR PENSION

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27211, 1 December 1953, Page 12

DECISION ON WAR PENSION

AUCKLAND MEETING PROTESTS (New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, November 30. A meeting of more than 400 war pensioners, war widows, dependants, and sympathisers protested today against the Government’s refusal to grant a 10s increase in the basic war pension of £3 10s. The meeting unanimously resolved that in view of the diminishing purchasing power of the £ the request for an increase was a modest one well within the country’s resources, ana should have received better treatment than “cold indifference and complete disregard of the undeniable rights of war pensioners.” The motion concluded: “We call upon the Government to grant the increase forthwith.’* “Don’t be misled by the bogy of pressure groups,’’ said Mr A. P. Fostlewaite, president of the Auckland branch of the Returned Services’ Association, who presided. “War pension claims have always been a main policyplank in the R.S.A. We know there is a growing uneasiness among members of Parliament that New Zealand is net doing its full duty by disabled men.” Mr Postlewaite said he would like the Prime Minister (Mr Holland) to meet returned men face to face, and added: “We intend to carry this campaign forward until we achieve our objective.”