WAR PENSIONS

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 113, 16 May 1927, Page 10

WAR PENSIONS

AS OF RIGHT PRINCIPLf NOT SOUND ~ t MINISTER EMPHATIC The Minister in Charge of the' Pensions Department (the Hon. G. J. Anderson) was emphatic in his belief, as expressed to-day to a deputatior from the South African War Veterans’ Association, that the giving of a war pension as a matter of right, is hot sound in principle. The Miinster promised to bring before Cabinet a request -for an increase in the pension to South African war veterans.. The spokesman, Mr. J. J. Clark reminded the Minister that some time ago a pension of £l3 per year, in addition to the old age pension, -had been put on the Statute Book for South African war veterans; also that the Minister had intimated that he might be, prepared to increase the amount to £26 per annum subsequently. Mr. Clark gave credit to the Government for what it . had -done, and suggested that as .the payments jn respect to Maori War veterans- were decreasing, very rapidly, and/in view of the saving thus effected, consideration might now be given to an increase for the South African veterans. He said he understood that pension payments to Maori War veterans were about £4OOO less last year than in the previous year, and that the annual decrease was at that rate. -Many of the South African veterans were now reaching the old age pension stage. The men who served in the late war had been treated more generously than the South African veterans, and he submitted that the men who served in South Africa or in the Maori Wars did their duty in the same way as'the soldiers of the Great War. BURIAL AS PAUPERS. < Mr. J. H. E. Tilling referred to instances in which ex-soldiers had died in circumstances in which they were buried as paupers, and asked the Ministry if he would consider extending to such cases what was already extended to pensioners in- regard to burial. The Minister: “Yon are referring particularly to South African veterans?” Mr. Tilling: “Of course it would cover all.” - The Minister said he thought provision was already in existence to meet such eases. The speaker said-he did not think so. Fortunately only two cases had come before the notice of the association. SUFFICIENT RECOMPENSE.

Mr. Anderson said he would go into the matter. In regard to the main request of the deputatipn, he remarked that, he had nothing more to say than on the previous occasion. “I certainly don’t think,” ho said, “that q man who is in natural i*rcumstanees, and who by the laws of the land is enabled to acquire a competency, should get- a pension of right. The Maori War veteran got a pension of right, but I don’t think it is the correct thing to do. I believe that if a man has, under the laws of the country, accumulated large property, ho has been recompensed by the country for which he fought; I beliove that the country has seen • him through all that it is entitled to see himthrough. With regard to tho man who has fallen on evil days, either by misfortune, by lack of talents, or by other circumstanacs,; ■ I do think that we should assist him.” Mr. Anderson roitevated his opinion .that it was commonsense that if a man acquired property by his own exertions under the laws of the country he fought, for lie should not expect a pension. He should not look : for it. On the other hand,’he thought the Government should do something extra for the. man who had not acquired property, and it had already been done. Mr. Clark: “To a small extent.” The Minister said that the Govern-, ment .did not have an opportunity of considering .n further‘increaso last session, owing to pressure of other legislation, but ho would bring the matter before Cabinet again. “But vou must understand, ” ho addod, with emphasis, “that I won't stand for a pension of right.” Mr. Clark said ho realised that economies in nny direction would bo very acceptable just now. Personally, lie thought the Minister’s opinion about the pension by right was;correct, but the association was not now asking for a pension by right. It begged to differ with tho Minister, however, on that point.