WAR PENSIONS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 1472, 13 November 1915, Page 3

WAR PENSIONS.

A PROBLEM OF FINANCE. PRIME MINISTER’S WORDS. A few clays ago the Prime Minister remarked that if defects were discovered in the War Pensions Act, Parliament would take the first opportunity to make the necessary amendment. Since then correspondents have continued to complain that the Act “penalises thrift,” and altogether there is a persistent demand for a large expenditure. Mr Massey said on Thursday that the estimated cost of pensions was £1,000,000 a year, and the Government was absolutely obliged to keep the finance factor in mind. The Ministry had to look ahead and to be on guard against any period of depression following tire war —the usual sequel to a very destructive war. Of course, if it was found that the expenditure was below the amount anticipated, Parliament would be pleased to increase the grants in certain cases. Briefly, the attitude of Mr Massey may be stated thus ; The Government is naturally eager to allocate as much as can be spared for pensions. The Government is ready to recommend Parliament to go to the limit of New Zealand’s financial ability in this direction—but there is a limit. It is impossible, in present circumstances, to commit the country to a much increased expenditure, to come into operation at a time when the financial conditions may be very different from to-day’s. The Government has a problem of ways and means. A well-known fact (which Mr Massey did not mention) is that the political parties have been in close competition in the humanitarian field during the past few years. They have vied with one another in promises and assurances of improvement of the pension system. Those who have observed the trend of politics during the last decade may believe strongly that members of Parliament and aspiring candidates will agree readily to grant the maximum amount (or more) which New Zealand can afford for war pensions.