PENSIONS OF DISABLED SOLDIERS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 309, 23 September 1920, Page 5

PENSIONS OF DISABLED SOLDIERS

75 PER CENT. INCREASE DEMANDED By Teleeraph—hesß Association, Christchurch, September 22. At a meeting of tho Canterbury Provincial Executive of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association, a discussion took place regarding tho present scale of pensions, and it was decided to urge all associations in the province to hold general meetings before the end of the month with a view to bringing pressure to bear on tho Government to increase the present scale. The_ following resolution was carried unanimously:— "In view of the fact thjit the pension hitherto granted to the totally and permanently disabled soldier was inadequate when it was granted. and in of tie faot that the cost, of living has risen by at least 75 to SO per cent, since the outbreak of war, this meoting calls upon tho Government to increaso the pensioa payable to totally disabled and permanently disabled soldiers from the £2 a week payable at present to .£3 10s. a week, and to increase the pension payable to partially or temporarily disabled soldiers and to dependants in similar proportion. This meeting of the Canterbury District Executive of the N.Z.R.S.A., believing it is the duty of tho country to do everything possible for soldiers maimed Ad disabled in the war, calls upon the Gavemment to mako tho above increase of n per cent., applicable in all cases of disablement, and that the War Pensions Act bo 'amended accordingly. This meeting maintains that power to grant supplementary and attendants' pensions should not be withdrawn from the War Pensions Board."