WAR PENSIONS HELD TO BE INADEQUATE

Grey River Argus, 20 June 1947, Page 7

WAR PENSIONS HELD TO BE INADEQUATE

WELLINGTON, June 18.

An increase in the rate of all war pensions and allowances to meet the present" cost of living is to be sought by the New Zealand Returned Services’ Association. The annual conference to-night decided this, and agreed to the setting up of a special council to prepare a formula for the necessary revision of pensions and allowances for submission to the Dominion executive for urgent action. Remits on the subject to the conference were referred to a special committee for consideration. One from the Temuka branch asked that any general increase in the basic wage rate granted by the Arbitration Court be made to apply to all war pensions.

The special committee also is to consider a remit from the Nelson branch asking that a war pensioner unable to work because of his war disabilities be granted a disability of not less than £6 10s weekly tax free.

A request to the Government that former servicemen who had suffered permanent and complete disablement should be granted free travel on all Government transport is to be made. It was stated that at present this concession was made to men for travel by the railways only. A remit requesting an approach to the Government for mental hospitals to be brought under the control of hospital boards or special boards was rejected. An amendment to the remit asking the. Government to improve facilities for the treatment of mental patients was also rejected.