RETURNED SOLDIERS

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 138, 10 May 1930, Page 2

RETURNED SOLDIERS

REHABILITATION COMMISSION. RECOMMENDATIONS MADE. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, May 9. The report of the Ex-Soldiers’ Rehabilitation Commission has been issued. It covers tho printed pages. There were 166 witnesses examined. Tho committee makes tho following recommendations, for all of which legislation will be necessary : (1) A reduction of the age for eligibility for the old-ago pension for South African war veterans. (2) A reduction of tho ago for eligibility for the old ago pension for exsoldiers. (3) Abolition of tho time limit as an element in tho qualification by certain wives as “dependants,” and the right of appeal for a wife whoso application for a pension as a dependant is refused. (4) Abolition of the time-limit as an element in the qualification by certain widows as dependants. A repeal of tho proviso that certain widows shall receive a. gratuity, instead of a pension. (5) Abolition of tho time-limit cf seven years in which “probability” may be invoked as evidence of “attributability.” (6) The formation and tion of a Soldiers’ Civil Re-establish-ment League. (7) Discretionary power in a Minister to allow war pensions to certain New Zealand soldiers who served with other British forces. (8) The extension of the benefits of the Discharged Soldiers’ Settlement Act and Repatriation Act in certain enses to British ex-soldicrs other than New Zealanders. Six questions were submitted to tho commission. Replying to the first question—what are tho present condition and circumstances of the persons affected, their approximate number, and tho nature of their disabilities?—tho commission states that the average age of tlicso is probably between 38 and 45, but some aro as old as 70. Many understated their ages when joining up with the forces, nnd their war experience had an unsettling tendency and a particularly bad effect when it was sought to repatriate them. They have never found a place in the economic industrial machine, but have drifted from casual work to casual work, and it is only now, when they are approaching the average age mentioned above, that their deepest anxiety and dispair are being felt at the prospects for the future not only for themselves, but also for their wives and children. “This anxiety and despair,” says the report, “aro breaking the nerves of the men and so deteriorating material which it is desirable that we should endeavour to rehabilitate. In general terms their circumstances may bo described as on the .(bread and butter’ lino. Their number is about 5000, and their disabilities generally are due to war wounds and impaired health duo to their war services.”

In reply to question two, as to the adequacy of pensions, no recommendation is made to increase the pensions to veterans -of the Maori War. The South African veterans now number about 4000. The commission does not recommend the request of the South African Veterans’ Association that a service pension of £SO per annum be paid to ail such veterans irrespective of health or financial standing and purely as a reward for their services in South Africa, nor a similar pension for all such veterans on attaining the age of 65 years; but the commission does recommend a reduction of tho ago for eligibility for the old age pension in tho case of such veterans from 65 to 60 years. Tho classes of cases arising out of the Great War are discussed in considerable detail. For such cases the major recommendation of the commission embraces tho formation of a Soldiers’ Civil Re-establishment League and that the administration of the economic pensions scheme be worked in conjunction with this League. The League, with its branches in every centre, will know tho men who are subjects of tho present problem, and will liavo employment and rehabilitation officers in touch with them and with tho executive of the League. As to those men in tho class of 50 per cent, disability or over, the League’s officers, with full knowledge of tho individual men, will report. “These men aro unemployable,” says tho commission. “They aro quite unable to support themselves. We recommend them for tho full economic pension.” PARTIALLY DISABLED. As to the others, their cases as potentionnl pensioners will bo considered by the League in connection with its efforts to find work. The League’s committees will have knowledge of all these men. They will know their capabilities; they will know tho work they aro fitted for and the work they are doing. They will therefore be aide not only to take into account the economic factors in the lives of these men, but also largely to govern and control these factors; and their policy will be to reduce the need for a pension by increasing the economic and earning factors in each mail’s life. “Wo recommend,” states the report.” “that as a general principle, the finding and recommendation of the appropriate committee of the League should fix a man’s right to tho economic pension.” The commission was asked to inquire and report upon means by which the remaining capacity of such persons as aforesaid could best ho utilised so as to enable them in whole or in _ part to maintain themselves and their dependents. and the advisability or otherwise of adopting any particular means which may he proposed for that purpose. No effective answer could be given to this question even in general terms without first making an occupational classification of the persons affected. Under this heading tho commission discusses “special fanning schemes, unskilled labour, artisans and skilled tradesmen, messengers, porters, liftmen, under rate workers” and suggests that such cases should ho loft to the discretion of tho league. Question four was that the commission inquire into and report on ea'es where no means were likely to enable such persons to be able by their own efforts to partially or wholly maintain themselves and their dependents, and the best means of affording assistance to them. The commission finds|that the provision for those totally disabled is adequate. As to pensioners whose total disability is not entirely due to war service, the commission thinks that some anomalies may be cleared away and for extra sustenance they should look to war funds. As to non-pension-ers, they fall into two sub-divisions—-those whoso total inability, to maintain themselves is not attributable to war service and those whose inability is due to tho infirmities of old age. The commission considers that tho first subdivision must also look to war funds. As to the second subdivision, the recommendation is that the League should apply tho provisions of tho Rest Houses Act of 1929. Question No. ftve f> dealt with classes of persons who should come within the scope of the recommendations and

principles governing such classification. The commission docs not consider exImperial soldiers should come under the war pension provisions, on the ground that each part of the Empier must look after its own men. They make exception, however, in favour of New Zealanders compelled by circumstances to enlist under conditions which technically exclude them from the New Zealand pension statues and quote several cases of hardship. The commission also considers all ex-service men from any part of the Empire now sottled in the Dominion, should be entitled to the advantages of the provision for settlement on land or in business if they can give sufficient assurance to the league that they have a reasonable chance of suceeding.