R.S.A. AFFAIRS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 15 June 1927, Page 5

R.S.A. AFFAIRS.

PROBLEMS BECOME DIFFICULT. PENSIONS AND LAND. (BY TELEGRAPH" ‘PRVIBB association.) WELLINGTON, June 14. Reviewing the past year’s work of the Returned Soldiers’ Association, the Dominion executive committee states: "Broadly, it may be said that there has been a notable increase in the number of individual cases placed before the association, and also that the problems connected -with such cases are becoming more difficult to solve. Without doubt ex-servicemen are realising more and more the benefit of the 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, but without success.” Regret is expressed that last year again the association was unablCj to secure the amending legislation, desired in regard to (a) the payment of pensions to widows of soldiers who died as a result of their war disabilities, irrespective of whether there was a pro-departure engagement to marry or not, and (b) the payment of pensions to disabled soldiers’ wives and children, irrespective of the date of marriage. Pj-otesting against the seven years’ time limit in the 1923 Act amending the 10115 War Pensions Act, the executive committee .comments on the reply of the Minister of Defence to the representations made by it "so that benefit of the doubt clause which the New Zealand R.S.A. fought so hard to obtain in 1923 will not operate in connection with an application for war pension lodged over seven years after discharge. There must be no doubt about the establishment of such a claim. If there is any doubt at all the decision will not be for the applicant; it will be against him. "Anyone who has had anything to do with a claim for war pensions 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 difficulties surrounding a Maim for pension on grounds of attributability in future will be greatly increased.” With reference to the artificial limbs question, the report states: "The contract for the supply of metal limbs expires 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 of the specifications of such limb and was surprised to discover the limb had not been assembled in any one of its various types even for experimental purposes. The closest consideration is being given to this matter and strong representations will be made to the Minister of Defence.” The executive reports that during tlte year no progress has been made in respect to questions of land and rating. "The resolutions of the last. Dominion council meeting were duly considered by the Minister of Lands and, without giving actual details of the reply, it may be stated that none of them were agreed to. The position with regard to the Discharged Soldiers’ Settlement Act is almost identical with that stated in t-lie Dominion executive committee’s last annual report. Advances , for houses arc restricted to disabled men of ;50 per cent, or more disability, while limited surplus of funds are still urgently needed to assist soldion settlors. ’ ’