WAR PENSIONS

Evening Post, Volume XCIV, Issue 52, 30 August 1917, Page 7

WAR PENSIONS

NOT TO BE AFFECTED BY MAN'S

EARNING CAPACITY.

Speaking on the subject of War Pensions in the House of Representatives yesterday affcernooin, the member for Ohinemuri (Sir. H. Poland) m-ged that the time had arrived when tlio Minister should liave appointed a. board whose sole duty it would be to deal with appeals so as to avoid taking men away fiom civilian occupations in which their services were essential.

Sir James Allen contended that, instead of becoming more callous, as alleged, the WaT Pensions Board had become more liberal, and the whole administration of the Act had been improved month by month, until they had come to the point that the law was being strained in regard to the granting of pensions. Until a little while ago he had not come into contact with Mr. Fache, Commissioner of Pensions, but his opinion was that lie had never met a man with belter sympathies than.Mr. Fache. Ho was liberal in the extreme, and the law was being broken to givo higher pensions than would otherwise have been given. If an Appeal Board was set up, the effect would be that tho administration of the Pensions Act was not likely to be as liberal as it is to-day, because it would have to stick to the strict administration of the law, which, was not being done at the present time. There would be an amendment of the Pensions Act this year in regard to the classification of injuries. He contended that the administration of the New Zealand Act was more liberal than the administration of the English Act. It was for the House to say what the amended schedule to the Act should be. The Bill would base the pension on a man's disability, no matter what was his earning capacity. That ought to be clearly and definitely stated in the Act. Timt was very necessary, if pensioners were to be encouraged, as they all-desired, to apply themselves to learn fresh industries, and to take as efficient a part in civil life as possible. A man must feel that by doing that he was not hazarding hie pension, nor laying himself open to being penalised by having his pension reduced. (Hear, hear.) Speaking on the same subject, Mr. Payne suggested that counsel should he provided "for applicants going before tlio board, so that their wsws might bo stated in proper terms.