RETURNED SOLDIERS

Evening Star, Issue 19583, 15 June 1927, Page 2

RETURNED SOLDIERS

THE ANNUAL REPORT PROBLEMS INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT [Per United Peess Association.] WELLINGTON, June 14. The eleventh annual conference of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association was opened to-day, Majorgeneral Sir Andrew Russell (dominion president) presiding over a full attendance of delegates. Reviewing the past year s work _of the association, the Dominion Executive Committee states that “ broadly it may be said that there has been a notable increase in the number of _ individual cases placed before the association, and problems connected with such cases are becoming more difficult to solve. With-' out doube ex-service men are realising more and more the benefit of organisation. For years the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association has done its utmost to alter the Government’s viewpoint with regard to pensions to the wives and widows of returned men, hut without success.” Regret was expressed that last year the association was again unable_ to secure the amending legislation desired in regard to (a) Payment of pensions to widows of soldiers who died as a result of their war disabilities, irrespective of,whether there was a pre-departure engagement to marry or not. (b) Payment of pensions to disabled soldiers’ wives and children irrespective of the date of marriage.

Protesting against seven-year time limit in the 1923 Act, amending the 1915 War Pensions Act, the Executive Committee comments on the reply of the Minister of Defence to the representations made by it “so that the benefit of the doubt clause which the New Zealand Returned Association fought so hard to obtain in 1923 will not operate in connection with an application for a war pension lodged over seven years after discharge. There must be no doubt about the establishment of such claim. If there is any doubt at all the decision will not he for the applicant. It will be against him. Anyone who has anything to do with a claim for a war pension knows that the benefit of the doubt going to the applicant is the saving of a great number of cases. To remove this clause means that tho difficulties surrounding a claim for a pension on the grounds of attribntability in future will be greatly increased.” With reference to the artificial limbs question, the report states: “The contract for the supply of metal limbs ex nines shortly, and the Government is calling for tenders for the manufacture of about five types of an entirely new metal limb. Headquarters immediately sought details and specifications of such limbs, and was surprised to discover tho limb had not been assembled in any one of its various types even for experimental purposes. Tho closest consideration is being given to this matter, and strong representations will be made to the Minister of Defence.” Tho executive reports that during the year no progress has been made in respect to questions of land and rating. Resolutions of last Dominion Council meeting were considered by the Minister of Lands, and without giving the actual details of his reply it may be stated that none of them was agreed to. The position with regard to the Discharged Soldiers’ Settlement Act is almost identical with that stated in the committee’s last anunal report. Advances for houses are restricted to disabled men of 50 per cent, or more disability.