SOLDIERS’ PENSIONS

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 225, 19 June 1936, Page 6

SOLDIERS’ PENSIONS

Restoration of “Cuts”

CONFERENCE DECISIONS

Restoration of pension cuts was urged upon the Government iu a motion which the conference of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association carried yesterday. Mr. W. E. Leadley, Christchurch, the chief speaker iu favour of pressing this upon the Government, said that the party now in power had promised to restore pension cuts “with no it’s or buts.” The motion was as follows: “That the Government be urged to restore all pension cuts at the earliest possible moment.”

Discussion of details of the laws governing war pensions and their administration occupied a large portion of yesterday’s meeting. Increase in the allowances under the War Veterans’ Allowances Act to give the recipients a proper standard of living, and the amendment of the Act to provide at least 33 1-3 per cent, increase in the scale of allowances was favoured. Another amendment of the Act to be suggested to the Government is one to make it include the members of his. Majesty’s overseas forces, who otherwise fulfil the qualifications as to residence in the Dominion and incapacity and service in engagement with the enemy.

The conference decided that exsoldiers’ marriages more than seven years after their discharge should be recognised when applications are made for pensions. Remits asking that ex-soldiers should receive the old age pension at 55, aud that they should receive it if they -have had 15 years’ residence in New Zealand were adopted. The necessity for the appointment of a representative of the British Ministry of Pensions in New Zealand for the convenience of ex-Imperiai soldiers is to be urged on the Government. The conference favoured the granting To men with a disability of prewar origin but aggravated by the war the same privileges as are enjoyed by those whooe disability is entirely due to the war. The Hospital Boards’ Association is to be asked if hospitals would extend to returned soldiers the benefits of an agreement whereby they would have free treatment for themselves aud their families upon the payment of a regular annual sum. The association is to ask the Government to amend the law to allow the widow of an ex-soldier whose death is not due to war service the same allowance as she would have received during his life. It was pointed out that lack of exercise led to the premature death of badly disabled soldiers sometimes, but such deaths were not always accepted as attributable to war service. The following were other remits adopted:—■ “That the Government be requested that there shall be granted to the wife of any pensioner a pension equal to onehalf of the pension granted to the pensioner, and to each dependent child a pension equal to one-quarter of the pension granted to the father provided the economic circumstances of the family warrant such pensions.” ’ “That South African veterans be given the same rights of appeal in respect ot disability pensions as are available to members of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force.”