PENSION RIGHTS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20865, 18 August 1942, Page 2

PENSION RIGHTS

INJURED SOLDIERS TERRITORIALS & GUARD APPEAL TO MINISTER (P.A.) WELLINGTON, this day. The question of war pensions for members of the home service forces, including the Home Guard who suffer injury while proceeding to or from parades or leave, formed the subject of a deputation to the Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, from the Dominion executive committee of the New Zealand Returned Services Association, states a report supplied by the executive committee. The deputation submitted the following resolution: “That disability (accident or sickness) occurring (1) while within the boundaries of a camp, whether on duty or not, (2) at any other time while actually on duty, or going to or returning from duty, (3) when actually proceeding on or returning from leave and (4) in any other case if it can be shown that 'the condition was caused or aggravated by their service, should come under the War Pensions Act.” Special Committee Approved The deputation stated that the association appreciated the difficulty of arriving at any definite basis for the acceptance of claims for war pensions from home'service men, and also appreciated the Government’s action in setting up a special committee '.to consider some of the cases under the headings outlined in the association’s resolution. 'N In some of the cases considered by this special committee the of a full war pension and other' > privileges have been granted as com- > pensation. The association felt that the Government had recognised the principle that these men were entitled to adequate recompense and it failed to see why this could not be done through the War Pensions Board;' The deputation further suggested that, provided a mfin was travelling definitely on a service warrant; going to or returning from his destination, ho should be considered as coming within the provisions of the war" pensions legislation. Minister’s Reply The Minister, replying, said that there had been a large number of accidents suffered by men going to or • returning from parades. The question of war pensions for Home Guardsmen and Territorials had been ' receiving the consideration of the Government. The War Pensions Board had stated that such injuries were not attributable to service in the forces. The Government had considered that there was hardship jn some of the cases and, therefore, had appointed a committee to go into the matteri' . The Minister* further stated that the cases of injury of home service men while on leave being left to the War Pensions Board was a policy matter for the Government’s decision. If it were decided that men travelling oil furlough with' a warrant who met with an accident were eligible for a war pension, these cases would 'automatically come within the "scope of the War Pensions Board. There'vye're ’ a lot of difficulties to be considered, however, before a decision', .could be made. The Minister promised 'that tire representations would be borne in mind when -the matter 'was "Being considered.