INCREASED PENSIONS

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 90, 13 October 1933, Page 2

INCREASED PENSIONS

REQUEST TO MINISTER

SOUTH AFRICAN VETERANS

Requests that the age at which persons would bo eligible for the South African war pension should be reduced from 65 to 60 years, and that the pen- [ sion should bo increased from £13 to £26 were made by a deputation representative of the South .African War Veterans' Association which waited on the Minister in Charge of Pensions (the Hon. J. G. Cobbe) yesterday. It was also askod that New Zealanders who had fought with other units in the war should be eligible for the pension.. A further request was made, to the Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. J. A. Young) for the total proceeds of an art union, to be used as the nucleus of, a fund to assist New Zealand exservicemen from South.Africa who were in distress. It was pointed out that previously £.250 had. been received as part or an art union grant, but there was little left after the money, had* been divided among the branches of the association. The main speakers were Major J. G. Halpin (Auckland) and Mr. J. I. Goldsmith (Wellington). It was pointed out that only 39 men were receiving the pension, and it was considered that no great additional tax would be placed on the Government. South African veterans did not participate in the funds in which other ex-servicemen shared. Mr. Cobbe assured the deputation of his sinipathy, and said that he would have the whole matter placed before the Commissioner.of Pensions. A reduc. tion in the pension age would cost £8600 this year, £24,000 .in 1939,----£27,000 • the following year, and £28,000 the next. Mr. Cobbe indicated that ha viewed the deputation's request that the age bo ; reduced sympathetically, but did not view with so much sympathy the request for the increased pension. However, he said, he would place the matters before the Commissioner of Pensions. The Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. J. A. Young) said that the £250 which had been mentioned was the amount which the Government had pre.viously allocated,' but which had had to be cut out on account.of economies. He referred to the largo number of requests being made similar to that of the South African- veterans, and he undertook to see that the deputation's representations were taken to the proper quarters.