WAR PENSIONS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17077, 28 January 1916, Page 4

WAR PENSIONS.

MORE SYMPATHY IN ADMTNIS- - TRATION. . I, ;,, NO NEED FOR SPECIAL SESSION, [From Otm. Cop.BEsroxpENT.] WELLINGTON, January 27. A few months ago, when the members of Parliament were circularised by Mr Robert Fletcher, member for Wellington Central, with the object of demanding from the Government a epecial session for the purpose of liberalising the War Pensions Act, many cases were quoted of hardship affecting the dependents of soldiers who had been killed-or. injured, in the Empire's service.- There has been no special session to amend the law, but the administration has been improved, and Mr Fletcher concedes to-day that there is no need to call Parliament together, because the trouble has largely disappeared. He estimates that no lower than five hundred cases have been reconsidered, tfith'results satisfactory to the soldiers or their relatives, and the general attitude of the Pensions Board fs more liberal than was at first the case.

"I have had letters from all over New Zealand commending my action,' remarked Mr Fletcher to a representative of the ". Lytteltou Times," " and although it will not.be officially admitted,- thero is no doubt thp.t the board is much more liberal than when, it commenced to. administer the Act. Tho board now takes a much broader view. At a recent social gathering attended by the Minister of Defence, Mr Allen admitted that this is the case, and for once I agreed with him. However, I believe that unless the agitation had developed to the wide extent that was evident a few months ago, our wounded soldiers would still be lamenting the parsimony of the State which they fought to maintain. It is well to talk of patriotism and toWave an occasional flag, but the'best recruiting agency we have is the knowledge on the part of eligible young men that if they do their duty the State will do its duty by them, if injured, or by their dependents if they never return. This is the least the community can. do for our boys at the front."

Mr Fletcher's opinion upon the Pensions Board and its effect on recruiting is borne out by Captain Barclay, who is in charge of the Wellington Town Hall recrtuting office, which has enrolled lb'o7 men up to date. He finds that quite a number of men expect to be called up because they expressed, their willingness in the war census paper. Some have called to know the date on which they must go into camp, and have expiessod disappointment and disgust that they have to go through the enrolment formality.

" One difficulty, especially with married men," remarked Captain Barclay, when explaining dull times in recruiting.' ''is that they consider the allowances to dependents inadequate. Single men feel the same thing, and they object to the position mider which allowances are given, not as a matter of right, but after a 'Bumbledom inquisition ' as to their private means and earning power."