Studying War Pensions

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31086, 15 June 1966, Page 3

Studying War Pensions

r (N.Z. Press Association)

WELLINGTON, June 14.

A new war service pension to replace the allowance for 1939-45 war veterans was still “under active consideration,” the Minister in Charge of War Pensions (Mr Kinsella) told the R.S.A. at its jubilee conference today.

Mr Kinsella said the introduction of such a major scheme had many implications. not the least of which was the question of rights under existing law.

“However, I expect to be able to discuss certain proposals with your executive in a short while,” he said.

“SECOND TO NONE” By and large reasonable provision for the individual welfare of ex-servicemen had been achieved, said the R.S.A.'s president (Mr H. Mitchell). “If we attain the war service pension or something equally beneficial we will have a pensions system second to none,” he said. Mr Mitchell said the time had come to direct the energy of the association for the benefit of others. That is the purpose of two remits, he said. The first sought authority to foster youth clubs. The second

would establish a golden jubilee fund, to give help wherever required outside New Zealand, particularly in the Pacific and South-east Asia. DEFENCE SPENDING New Zealand might have to increase her defence bill further, the Minister of Defence (Mr Eyre) told the conference. Most people realised that the only hope of small nations was to band together as full and active partners for mutual defence in South-east Asia, Mr Eyre said.

i "Britain has said she does i not intend to carry the bur- > den of manpower and expense i in the defence of this part of ; the world as she has in the past, which means that New Zealand and Australia will have to do much more. • “Communist China’s leaders I have made it very plain that • they intend to expand their ■ influence throughout Asia if they can,” said Mr Eyre. : “They have already made it ; clear that they are looking I towards Thailand, Laos, ■ Malaysia, and Singapore. : South Vietnam is only the 'start—if they succeed.”