BOER WAR PENSIONS

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 16, 13 October 1933, Page 9

BOER WAR PENSIONS

Deputation’s Requests INCREASE WANTED Urging a reduction in the age of persons eligible for South African War pensions of from 65 to 60 years, and an increase in the pension itself of £l3 to £26, a deputation comprising members of the executive of the South African War Veterans’ Association waited upon the Minister of Defence, the Hon. J. G. Cobbe, yesterday. It was also asked that New Zealanders who had fought with other units should be eligible for pensions. The deputation further made a request to the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. J. A. Young, for the full proceeds of a future art union to be used in relieving distress among New Zealand ex-servicemen from South Africa. All tin requests, which were the result of remits passed at the conference of the association, were heard sympathetically, but a number of difficulties in the way of the requests being granted were pointed out. The speakers were Major J. G. Halpin, of Auckland, and Mr. J. I. Goldsmith, Wellington. It was now 32 vears since the end of the Boer War, it was stated, and this was about the twelfth deputation on the subject. Certainly something bad. been received, but it was only a very small amount. Under the present conditions only 39 men were receiving the pension, and it was considered that no great additional tax would be placed on the Government. Nothing would give him greater pleasure than to be able to give a definite favourable reply, but there were certain difficulties, said Mr. Cobbe. in replv. The reduction in the age of those entitled to receive help would in the present vear mean an additional charge of-£B6OO. and the amount would increase for a few years to follow. However, he had full sympathy with the representations, and would consider the whole question with the Commissioner of Pensions. With regard to the request for the full benefit of an art union, the Hon. J. A. Young said that out of the last four art unions grants of about £34,000 had been made for the relief of "distress about New Zealand. He could not answer for the association receiving the full benefit of one. but would go into the question. This form of raising money was not as profitable as it had been a short time ago. As time wore on art unions had been becoming considerably less remunerative.