WAR PENSIONS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 126, 30 May 1941, Page 6

WAR PENSIONS

ECONOMIC POSITION

INCREASES SOUGHT

Remits dealing with war pensions and economic allowances were considered by the annual conference of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association yesterday. The opinion was expressed by some delegates that the basic disability pension should not have remained at the level decided upon in 1915, but should have increased with the increased cost of living. It was pointed out that the cost of living today was 15.7 per cent, above that of 1923, when the economic allowance to pensioners and their dependants was granted.

A remit asking for an increase of 15 per cent, in the economic pension was considered.

Mr. F. C. Allerby (Wellington) opposed this on the ground that it was the war pension that should be increased, so that all disabled men would benefit. He moved as an amendment that the total disability pension should be increased'from £2 a week to £3 10s.

This was opposed by a number of delegates, and was rejected, and the remit was carried.

A remit asking that allowances to the dependants of men serving in the Forces in New Zealand or overseas should be increased by 50 per cent. was carried without discussion.

It was agreed that representations should be made to the Government to provide adequate facilities for outpatient treatment for ex-servicemen.

It was also agreed that the Government should be asked to provide a suitable home for ex-servicemen permanently incapacitated, if the number of such men justified the establishment of an institution.

Other remits carried asked for suitable headstones for the graves of soldiers who have died during the present war. travel privileges for disabled men, Government investigation of the supply of artificial limbs, with a view to establishing a modern factory, the burial of returned soldiers of limited financial means, full pensions for war amputees until artificial limbs are fitted and for six months afterwards, and a number of other matters relating to war pensions.