Economic Pensions

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 170, 14 April 1932, Page 9

Economic Pensions

Sir, —In your issue of to-day's date you give details of a cut in economic pensions. For the public who do not know what an economic pension is I would explain that it was an extra pension for a partly or totally disabled soldier who (and this you omitted) has absolutely no other form of income. That even includes a wife or grown son who ean earn a little, and according to the earnings so is the economic pension reduced. Sir, the men now- drawing this pension require it more now than in earlier days. We are mostly verging on the 50 mark, and wherever work is to be found the younger man gets preference—the employer does not; want enfeebled wrecks. So a kindly Government proposes to dock our economic pension by 30 per cent. Why should we be singled out for such a drastic reduction? The others get a 10 per cent., we 30 per cent. There arc certain cases where tbe husband is unable to live with his family on account of disease contracted during the war, such as T. 8., and they find to keep two homes going the full amount now paid (it has already been subjected to one 10 per cent, cut) is little enough. Without any desire to swank or flagwng. I would point out that when Old England “Fawned on the younger nations for the men who could shoot and ride.” and we iu common with our brothers at Home came in our tens of thousands we undoubtedly saved the Dominion from becoming a German colony, so now as a reward when we are getting on in life and need every shilling we are to be singled out for a higher cut than the others. Realising the state of our country we would willingly accept a 10 per cent. cut. and so once again try to do our bit and no grousing. But the 9/- per week is such an infinitesimal sum to the country and those on full pension and economic pension are not many now —“They gently fade away.’ as an old song says—that to make such n cut is contemptible in the extreme. . . The younger generation now growing up have no conception of what ,we went through in Gallipoli, Palestine and France, and I sincerely hope they never will in actuality. But for my fellow totally disabled comrades I ask you. sir, to use all the influence of your paper to protest against this really serious reduction in our pensions. As I said before, there are only a. handful of ourselves now and tbe saving to New Zealand would be despicable, ns all in that position are going fairly fast. Morituri to Salutate ct Vale.” —T am, etc.. p.s.n. Wellington, April 9.

P.S.; As an alternative might I suggest that the reductions be left to th* discretion of the Pension Appeal Board, each applicant to appear personally?