Disabled Soldiers Government's Side

Northern Advocate, 17 December 1938, Page 7

Disabled Soldiers Government's Side

Details of the Government’s position in relati on to suggested amendments to the War Pensions Act have been forwarded to Mr. J. G. Barclay, M.P. for Marsden, by the Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones. The operation of the Act in relation to returned soldiers now said to be “breaking down’’ as a delayed result of war service was criticised at a public meeting held in Whangarei on Sunday, November 27, under the auspices of the Disabled Soldiers’ Welfare Association.

At that meeting Mr. F. Hildredth said the association was asking for the abolition of secret reports In connection with the administration of the Act, the setting up of independent pensions boards in each of the four main centres in lieu of the present “totally inadequate system,” and the abolition of the word “directly” in connection with attributability of disability to Avar service. Mr. Jones has now forwarded to Mr.

Barclay a copy of notes taken when a deputation from the Disabled Soldiers’ Association waited on the Hon. P. C. Webb at Auckland last October, together with a copy of a letter forwarded on December 12 to the president of the association, Mr. W. A. Clinton, Auckland, regarding the points raised by the deputation. Deputation’s Requests Availability of pension files, the setting up of autonomous pensions beards in the four main centres, and the abolition of the word “direct” in connection with attributability to war service, together with the authorisation of the War Pensions (1915.) Act as the main act under which returned soldiers should receive pensions, were the requests made to Mr. Webb by th’e deputation. The deputation consisted of the association president, Mr. Clinton, the vice-president, Mr. A. J. Anderson, Mr. W, Radford, secretary, and Mr. Allan, who is also a member of the Auckland Returned Soldiers' Association.

It wag unjust that men should have to, prove , direct attributability of disability to war service as in some cases it was most difficult, said Mr. Clinton. ”

Mr. Allan, pointed out that a man who had been gassed was likely to contract cancer, and yet he could not

get a pension unless it was proved that, the disease was directly resultant on war service. Administration Criticised They had no quarrel with the monetary provisions of the War Pensions Act, said Mr. Clinton. As far as finance was concerned, the men were given generous treatment, but it was the administration of the Act which was not right. He knew' the Act had to be attended to, and the sooner the better, said the Minister.

The Government was in a privileged position in saying where the board must be set up, Mr. Clinton added. A board was definitely needed in Auckland. where as much as 60 per cent, of the appeals in New Zealand were heard.

The War Pensions. Act of 1915 should be' the main Act for the granting of pensions. What was needed Avas a system of evaluation, so that Acts arising out of the original one should be made a part of it. " The War Veterans’ Allowances Act Avas nothing more than a menace to the men.

There would he an Inquiry into the whole Act, and it would be brought before the next Cabinet meeting, said Mr. Webb.

The Minister’s Letter

In reply to the request for availability of pension files, Mr. Jones states in his letter to the association president that the files were to be regarded as confidential, in the soldiers’ OAvn interest.

On representations made in 1936 by the R.S.A. it Avas agreed that the department would -supply, in confidence, such particulars of the medical history of any particular case to the individual’s private medical adviser as would assist in the treatment of the case.

As far as the setting up of autonomous boards in each of the four main centres was concerned, the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association, the official body representing returned soldiers throughout the Dominion, had expressed confidence in the , War Pensions Appeal Board. Under the present system there was uniformity of decision as far as the board v/as concerned over the whole of the Dominion.

Sympathetic Treatment Regarding the third point, the production of evidence that disability or death of an ex-soldier was due to war service was not insisted upon by the

War Pensions Board. Both the Pensions Board and the War Pensions Appeal Board had at all times taken

a Avido view of this matter, and where there was a doubt, the ex-soldier Avas given the benefit of the doubt. “I can assure you that both boards arc very sympathetic,” stales the letter.

The War Pensions Act, 1915. had always been, and still ivas. the main Act of the war pensions legislation, the letter said in regard to the last point

Any Avar pensions enactments since 1915 had been amendments to this Act and the War Veterans’ Allowances Act. 1933, which made provision for alloAvances to unemployable veterans who had served in the Great War or in the South African War. was read together with and deemed part of the 1915 measure.