Opposition Gives Support To War Pensions Scheme

Northern Advocate, 26 August 1943, Page 4

Opposition Gives Support To War Pensions Scheme

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Moving the second reading of the War Pensions Bill, the Prime Minister (Mr Fraser) said that a number of very important principles were contained in the measure, some of which were new. Mr Fraser mentioned that lie had received a letter from the War Amputees’ Association, expressing satisfaction with the Bill and also from the R.S.A. Perhaps one of the most important sections of the Bill dealt with the question of attributability which had been a vexed subject with soldiers, both of the past war and this one. Both sections of the House wished that something definite should be done concerning the matter and, under the Bill, the onus of proof of war disability would in future not rest on the soldier or serviceman. Answering an interjection, Mr Fraser said that this provision would apply to servicemen of the last war, as well as this war, and God forbid there should be another war. but it would also apply to servicemen of future wars. The Bill was the best that had ever come before Parliament and embodied the outlook of men and women who had gone. The broad provisions made in it, while considerable and considered adequate under the present circumstances. could never recompense our servicemen and servicewomen for the losses and suffering they had sustaind. At The Last Minute

The Leader of the Opposition (Mr Holland) said that the Opposition supported the Bill. When the House considered a measure of this nature, it was dealing with something of vital importance to our servicemen and party politics could be dispensed with. However, he wished to draw the Government’s attention to the manner in which It had been presented. It had been brought down late the previous evening when a large number of different measures were being rushed through the House. Members had been equally busy all yesterday and giving to such an Important measure he had not had an opportunity of the consideration it deserved. The Prime Minister had mentioned that outside bodies had been consulted in its preparation. Would it not also have been possible to have consulted members of the Opposition to see if they had any contributions to make towards it? The Bill was a Parliamentary measure, not merely a matter for the Government. The Minister for Defence (Mr Jones' dealt at length with proposals in the Bill. The measure was a good one, he said, but no better than those serving the country deserved. Limbless Soldiers

Mr J. A. Lee (D.L P -Grey Lynn), urged that in rehabilitating limbless men they should be trained with a certainty of being offered a job when their training was successfully completed. He added that the man with 100 per coni disability, and a wife, was getting an increase of only 25 per cent. A great disability in the pensions legislation was the way it used*ihe earnings of a soldier’s wife and children to avoid payment of an economic pension. Mr J. A. Roy (Oppn.-Glutha) also voiced a protest against members of the House not having sufficient time to consider the matter thoroughly. They had to see tluu stability extended in practice. In connection with pensions it was not a question of lire money that was paid but what; the money would buy. Replying (o the debate al 11.50 (he Prime* Minister said lie was amazed at the Opposition’s claim that it had not. had. sufficient lime to study the Bill. The measure had been presented 24 hours previously and surely, wih a little team work, it would have been possible to divide it into, sections and for different Members to study each section. He was still speaking al midnight The Bill Carried The War Pensions Bill, tire debate on which had lasted in the House most, of the evening, was read a second time shortly after midnight, and the House proceeded to take a second reading of the War Pensions and Allowances "Mercantile Marine” Amendment Bill, which the Prime Minister explained would bring those pensions and allowances into Imo with the increases provided in the previous Bill. Mercantile Marine Benefits Mr Fraser paid tribute to the men of the mercantile marine who had so willingly and cheerfully risked their lives. Tlie Leader of the Opposilion (Mr Holland) in endorsing the Prime Minister's references to the mercantile marine, said that but for them the soldiers could not be taken to the war, nor could the Dominion’s product l be exported. They carried on without complaint, and the Opposition welcomed the opportunity oi putting into practical form the provisions of the Bill for those seamen who suffered as a result of the war. The Bill was read a second time, and. together with the War Pensions Bill and the Workers’ Compensation Amendment Bill, was pul through commit lee ana passed. Private Bills The House also passed the, Morris Divorce and Marriage Validation Bin through its remaining stages. . Two private measures, the Oialu and Porirua Trusts Bill—which incorporates a new board to hold the property now held by the Porirua College Trust Board, and varies the trusts upon which that property is hold —and the Papawai and the Kaikokirikiri Trusts Bill—which has a similar objective—were also put. through all stages and passed, as was the Native Purposes Bill, these measures being disposed of by 2.5 a.m.