War Pension Aid Available

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30880, 13 October 1965, Page 18

War Pension Aid Available

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, October 12. War pensions supplementary assistance was available for any war pensioner or veteran unable to meet essential commitments out of income, the Minister of War Pensions (Mr Kinsella) said today.

He issued a statement in reply to criticism voiced by the executive of the Christchurch Returned Services’ Association that this form of assistance was not being paid to the extent it might be. Mr Kinsella said any suggestion that the department was niggardly in its attitude towards this type of grant should be dispelled. Some £lB,OOO was spent last year on supplementary assistance from war and other pensions, the Minister said.

As well, some £700,000 was spent out of the Social Security vote from which many former servicemen would have received supplementary help. Mr Kinsella said there was no special fund today. “Supplementary assistance

for w:r pensioners is administered under the general control of the War Pensions Board paid out of the War Pensions vote. “As far as I am concerned every effort is made to see that the scheme is treated as generously as any other form of pension or allowance available to former servicemen. “If the Christchurch Returned . Services’ Association has reason to believe that some cases have not been treated on their merits I shall be pleased to investigate on receipt of the facts,” said Mr Kinsella.