DISABLED BY SERVICE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 29, 29 October 1917, Page 4

DISABLED BY SERVICE

A SOLDIER'S SUPERANNUATION,

A petition for relief in respect of superannuation was presented to tjie House of Representatives this session on behalf of Lieutenant-Colonel J. Gettin Hughes, D.5.0., AI.C. Colonel Hugnee was invalided home from Gallipoli, after a savers illness in hospitals in tho Mediterranean zone. Since his return he has been declared unfit for service, and had been retired from the New Zealand Staff Corps, for Colonel Hughes is a profes--sional soldier. Ho has bean given hts pension of about £260 a year, but ( lio was not allowed superannuation. The Superannuation Board held that lie was in such state that he might yet be fit for service, and would not allow him to go on to the fund. He had paid .£3OO or so to tiiu fund, which he could withdraw, but he wished to be allowed to draw superannuation, for which he haa paid, at the rato of .£loi a year, ffls appeal was favourably reported upon by the committeo, and was supported by honourable mombers in the House.

Dr. Newman said that the case was one of extraordinary hardship. It was not right that he should now be refused superannuation after n record of distinguished service iu two wars. ' Sir James Allen said that Colonel Hughes had been awarded his war pension, and had no grievance against the Defence Department. Considering Colonel Hughes's good reeord of 6ervlce it wao a hardship that lie should now be refused superannuation. It was on his (the Minister's) advice that Colonel Hughes haa petitioned the House. As to whether tho grievance could be put right, this must be a question for Cabinet. This question of superannuation affected all Defence officers, bocauso men could not bo retained in the Defence service until they reached mature age, as was tho custom in other Departments. Mr. T. M. Wilford suggested that this Government pay Colonel Hughes .£lOl for flus' year, and that permanent arrangement* to meet similar cases could bo made next session. , . Sir Joseph Ward said he did not deny that Colonel Hughes's oase was op« of hardship, but he wished to explain to ,tho House what tho position was. it was not right to say that he had been unjustly treated. By the law of the country the Superannuation Board had no power to grant superannuation to a man who was fit for duty. It happened that Colonel Hughes was a soldier, and was bv his own Department declared unfit for soldier's duties, but the Superannuation Board had other standards. If superannuation were to be paid accordin" to other rules, the rates of contribution would have to bo increased, and the Government would nave to subsidise the fund to the extent of perhaps JJIOO.OOO. The question to be considered was iihother an independent superannuation fund should bo established for Defence officers.