OLD SOLDIERS' CLAIMS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 664, 15 November 1909, Page 8

OLD SOLDIERS' CLAIMS.

Fv~^" e "J'scussion. m the Hotiso of Representatives yesterday ,on the plaints of old solethers who served this country in war;hme will, it is hoped, bear limit. It was quite evident that -the both sides of the House vCre with tho claimants. As.it may assist those members who aire desirous, of seeing these long-standing claims- settlbd,\ will you allow me to state what is.the actual position. ■>■'. •■. ■*^ ) . There have been various inquiries; set -up since the early 'eighties, and from 1888 onwards .claims have been settled,'one'may say grudgingly. The various Acts from 1831 dealing witV the claims .served their, purpose in affirming an' opportunity: for. more extended inquiry. '.The last commission produced a singularly urisatislactory report, and the expense oi: that, inquiry was altogether out of proportionate the. result, inasmuch'as a"large number of claims were rejected which should'have been recommended. :•;■ The Act under which the last commission was set up was passed- to settle the: claims, and that fact was.either overlooked or not appreciated. There are a great many good claims still outstending,.and the fact that numerous claims which wore, not recommended in, the report of the last commission have been since recognised and settled >is evidence '.that there . was good ground for revising the schedule to that re-' ,P or t. ■ '■ ■"',■■','..' • : Many claims hare been rejected on technical 'grounds, others on the co-called! ''character*' disqualification.. Then' numerous claims have been rejected for no apparent reason. The result is that so far. from the subject having ibeen'finally dealt with every 'year' renders ic more necessary to deal with these claims. As the original claimants, pass away their descendants can take up the claims, so that the idea that the claims will "die ottf? is foolish. What is heeded, is not another commission, but some' oho person with;sympathy,for ,the .veterans to bo appointed by the Government.to^deal with the outstandings claims.' .Av report could be presented next,,session, arid the whole matter settled, once for all. ':...'•..■ The :argument' that there'are many "bogus"' claims -is besido the ■ point. There is no ques; tion about themj but there are many good arid equitable claims, and those should be settled without delay. Trusting that these • remarks may assist'in-helping the cause of the many just claimants.'r-I am, etc.; ' . ;■• .. 'ATRIEND'OE THE 'VETERANS. '■ November 12. , . ':,-'