ADEQUATE PENSIONS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLIX, Issue XLIX, 14 January 1916, Page 4

ADEQUATE PENSIONS

THE BOARD AND THE ACT.

MORE LIBERAL INTERPRETATION . ,

| Soldiers' pensions- were referred to-at t.ne tramway men's gathering in VicWHa.ll, Wellington, on, Vedaiesda'v ?AV em T g '-D Sa^ S } b t " 3?ost -" 'The, Mayor | {Mi j. p. Luke), who was one of the ■ speakers, said that .pensions weiro a ' matter for Parliament. They required ( to be revised, and" no doubb would be're- ■ (vised. -Material-wealth was nothing- a s , compared" to the sacrifice those men were making who were prepared to lay down their lives, for the Empire. The tramway service had given manv men to the ' , war, and was .prepared to give more men. . It was not right to expect these s ' men—and . many thousands " more—to volunteer if we were not .prepared' to make the utmost sacrifice for them and their dependents. The Hon. James Allen (Minister for . fefence) also referred to the same subject. He said that the full puroort. and meaning, of the Pensions Act had at . ! firsts not been understood*. When the' Pensions Board began to administer the ' Act it did not interpret it in the spirit'- . an, which it was intended ■ the statute should ibe interpreted, but the'"last month or two it had been interpreted in a much broader manner—the 'manner -h which Parliament and the people intended it should be. dealt withl The Act was not all that could be desired, , hut it ,was unquestionably the n.oet • •bJberal Pension, Act •in the world. He I did not say that it would, W.nee i to jbe amended and made more 'idcva!, but ' he thought that liberal provision nad ■ been made for those who had sufto.e..'. in tlie service of their country. ■ ■ » • Mr R.' Fletcher, .M.P., "referring to Mr Allen's remarks, saias"that. there were some questions on which he ■ disagreed from.the Minister audsome-on •which, he agreed. He agreed that the ' ..pensions were being more/liberally administered than previously, arid' ho ' hoped this would continue. Was it notjour duty to provide for the wives, and .'■ ; sisters, and dependents of those who ; had sacrificed, .themselves, no matter ' ■ what the cost?* (Applause). It was controversial matter, and he was quite sura i the pensions would ibe extended. ' Why should not the scheme be moro> liberal than in other parts of the. world'? He j knew of one 1 case in which a nxim ' re- ■ ceiving £5 10s a week in, Wellington had! - 'gone to the front. He was engaged to jbe married, and had lost "both of his i legs. Now he was recovering, and when ', he came nack the .National "Government j was going to offer him 35s a week! ■„ At | the same time, ho.realised that .tihe'-'Na- " tional .Cabinet had'. v much' to 'contend ~ , with, and he (believed that Mr Allen- was " the hardest * worked member of that '•■ , Cabinet. (Applause).