RETURNED SOLDIERS’ AFFAIRS

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 14 June 1928, Page 5

RETURNED SOLDIERS’ AFFAIRS

OPPOSITION ORGANISATION. (By Telegraph —Press Association.) WELLINGTON. June 13. The Returned Soldiens’ Conference decided to approach the proper authorities with a view to .arranging, so far as is consistent with public ' .policy, the fail., that a. wrongdoer is a returned soldier should licit be featured. Oin respond cm u:: bad ghowii that eldr to were being made in 1 various, parts of 'the Dominion to set up. an organisation in opposition to the R.S.A. It was derided that a sub-committee be set up so consider the matter and. to. oend a deputation to the disaffected areas. Speakers took a serious view of the matter, as there was a .danger 'that thd movement would spread. It seemed Lear that the men concerned did nob roa. i.'se their obligations to their comrades. The following resolutions were carried : _*.... That the War Pensions Act he amended to provide for pensions for widows of ex-soldiers, whose deaths are attributable to war service., irrespective of a pre-war engagement to marry or the date of marriage. That old age pensions he available as a right at the age of 60 to returned soldiers, and at the age of 55 on the production of a medical certificate that liis earning capacity is impaired. That the Imperial Government be asked to remove the clause stipulating that a claim for a pension must be made within seven years of the soldier’s discharge from the forces. That, in view of the large number of Imperial ex-service men now residing in New Zealand, the conference urges upon the New, Zealand Government the immediate necessity of entering into a! reciprocal agreement with the Imperial Government whereby the claims of such Imperial ex-service men for pensions and treatment may be investigated and decided by the New Zealand War Pensions Board and, if ne'essary, the Appeal Board. “ That the New Zealand War Pensions Act be amended so that the New Zealand pension be. made available to men domiciled in New Zealand prior to enlistment, ana who served with tlie Imperial or other Empire forces. That it he a recommendation to the Government, to re-establish vocational training in connection with T.B. soldiers. particularly at Puekora, where there, are 38 T.B. returned men. That the interest from the canteen funds for one year be used for the purpose of granting relief to dependents of ex-soldiers and providing work for unemployed returned soldiers, and that the Government be requested to subsidies this amount, £ for £, and that the council appoint , a deputation to wait upon the members- of the canteen I ward resident in Wellington to stress the resolution.