Scaling Down Pensions According To Rank

Northern Advocate, 13 October 1949, Page 3

Scaling Down Pensions According To Rank

M.P. OBJECTS TO

WELLINGTON, Thu. (Sp.).—“A monstrous class distinction perpetuated after the death of men who gave their lives for their country,” was how Mr J. R. Hanan (0— Invercargill) described in the House of Representatives the scaling down of war widows pensions according to the deceased serviceman’s rank. Mr Hanan, who was a captain in the 2nd NZEF, said he was disappointed that the distinction was being perpetuated by the War Pensions Amendment Bill.

To say that this anomaly had been created by Governments of the past was no excuse tor the present Government’s not correcting what it knew to be palpably wrong, continued Mr Hanan.

The Minister had agreed with him in 1947, but had done nothing. His judgment had apparently been overridden by the military heirarchy. “I hope the Minister will bring in tlie same rate of pension for the widow of a priv&te 'as for the widow of a colonel,” said Mr Hanan.

He felt he could not be a member of any Government that would perpetuate what was being perpetuated in the bill

GRADUAL STAGES Mr P. G. Connolly (G—Dunedin Central) said the Government had done more than any other Government to eliminate the differentiation between those who had served as privates and the officers. After the South Africa:. War, disabled privates had received an Imperial war pension of from 8d to 4/a day, but a colonel had received a full year’s pay and a pension of £250 a year. Mr G. F. Sun (O—Waikato): Why perpetuate it? Mr Hanan: Why arc you afraid to eliminate it?

Mr Connolly said that as time went on the distinction would be eliminated. He thought that would be a good thing. It was being done in gradual stages, and that was the proper way to go about it. The Minister of Defence (Ml Jones) said the pension for 100 per cent disabled ex-servicemen from private up to and including the rank of major was £3/10/- a week; a lieutenantcolonel received £3/11/-, a colonel £3/13/-, and a brigadier £3/15/-. Mr Hanan: What about the widows? MINISTER’S COMMENT Mr Jones said there was certainly a Dig difference in the case of the widow's pension. For the widows of men of all ranks below a commissioned officer, the payment was £2/10/- a week; officers below captain, £2/15/-; captain, £3; major, £3/7/-; lieutenant-colonel, £3/10/-; colonel, £3/13/-; and brigadier, £4. The Minister said he would like to i see all these rates the same. When the Government considered me question of increasing the pennons, it decided to improve all grades. However, originally it would have . ueen better to establish the pensions on a universal basis. This had been done in paying war gratuities. The Government had tried to treat officers and men ’.like, but it could not be done in these cases, because the ratio had been fixed for the Government.

Slight alterations had been made in 1943.