PENSIONS FOR EX-SOLDIERS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 218, 9 June 1921, Page 5

PENSIONS FOR EX-SOLDIERS

"MOST VITAL QUESTION OF DAY." A section of the annual report oi the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association is devoted to the subject of pensions. It states that, during the time the War Pensions Act has been in operation numerous anomalies have been discovered in the 40,000 pension leases dealt, with. It is with the object of removing these anomalies that Air. G. M itchell, M. 1.. supported by the N.Z.R.S.A.. has asked for a Select Committee of the House to inquire into the whole question of P*’* 1 ' sions. It is hoped, that Cabinet will authorise the setting up of this committee, and that the N.Z.Tt.S.A. will bo. allowed to produce evidence before it in support of its claims. The executive of the association ham made several representations to the Government regarding the regrading of the schedule of injuries, ns "it is obvious to anyone who has 'had anything to do with pensions that for some minor injuries tbo pension rate is almost excessive, while for the graver and dual injuries the present pension rate is insufficient, and' indeed is often grossly unfair.’’ Tn replv to these representations the Defence Minister has stated that tho regrading will be considered on receipt of data from the Imperial War Pensions Board-

"Reviewing the pension question generally since the inception of the Act, odds the report, "we are firmly convinced that the question has proved io be a much greater one, and more difficult to handle than our legislators and the N.Z.Tt.S.A. first, thought. Let: us hope that the Select Committee will be set up. and the whole question discussed and treated os it should be. viz., ths most vital question of the day for all returned soldiers.”