"PETTY ECONOMY"

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 71, 25 March 1931, Page 10

"PETTY ECONOMY"

THE PENSIONS BOARD

OPPOSITION TO CHANGES

(Special to "The Evening Post.")

AUCKLAND, This Day

The suggested changes in the constitution of the War Pensions Appeal Board have aroused the opposition of returned soldiers, including those who have benefited by the operations of the board and those who have nothing to gain by its continuance.

So long as the present chairman of the board, Sir Walter Stringer, is agreeable to continue in office returned men will be satisfied. They are now marshalling their forces to counter any change which will entail the removal of Sir Walter Stringer and place returned soldiers under the jurisdiction of Magistrates with local Registrars of Pensions as secretaries.

"It seems rather petty economy on. the part of the Government," said a returned man who has interested himself in. appeal cases. "Sir Walter Stringer has now, had long experience in dealing with appeals for pensions, and that must be invaluable, not only to the Government, but also to the men for whom the board was constituted. Moreover, the men have confidence in Sir Walter. They cannot have the same confidence in registrars of pensions, who are Government servants and will doubtless give effect to tha policy of the Government in power. It will be new work, for Magistrates, and without questioning their ability it cannot be gainsaid that they must be influenced to somo extent at least by their secretaries."

The executive of the Returned Sol-die-TR' Association ig me&ting this .evening to consider the matter.