SOLDIERS' INTERESTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17229, 4 August 1919, Page 3

SOLDIERS' INTERESTS.

. DEPUTATION TO CABINET. - —_ ■ . QUESTION OF PENSIONS. ? ! PAYMENT OF ALLOWANCES. " [BY TEtECBA3?B.--PBfeSS ASSOCIATION.] | , WELLIRG'PON, Saturday. The Executive Council of the New Zeat land Returned Soldiers' Association met , members of the Cabinet to-day to discuss | questions arising from the last conference _ of the association:, The Ministers present * were Sir James Allen, the Hon. W. D S \ Mac Donald, lao Hon. "W. H. Herries, Sir r William Fraser, the Hon. G. W. Russell, J and the Hon. D. H, Guthrie. ' a. Sir ' Jalne Allen said it was gratifying • to see the spirit shown by the returned ; men m regard to rehabilitating the coun- ' J**- He thought they ws?e wise not to be a political body, but at the same time he knew that if some of them saw their I way to stand for Parliament, and were I returned, their services would be wal- ; corned. He regretted deeply there was - no such organisation a they proposed in . existence outside Parliament and indepen- . dent of Parliament to advise on questions J which Ministers were too fully occupied to , Regarding the restriction on pensions, he had -not been in favour of disabled men marrying outside New Zealand. He Had nothing to say against the marriages, that had taken place, but he thought at, the time that some scheming woman might marry a soldier for the pension he Would get. If the restriction were now removed would there not be a claim for retrospection ? ' ' " r Mr. J. D. Harper: No.—Wfe agree to its dating only from the time of legislation, Proposals to Cabinet. Sir James Allen said he was willing to . submit to the Cabinet the question of'removing this restriction, and also that on a marriage within two years, as it affected pension eligibility. Regarding the minimum pension to > totally disabled men, the board now made . grants of £4 and £5. ; p Mr. Harper : The supplementary, pension is governed by pre-war earnings We » want to make it definite. Sir James Allen said it was a matter of . policy which would be considered, but in I view of what the- board was now doing 1 he did not think they had made out a ' strong cape. He would submit to the Cabinet the question of a seven years' limitation. Continuing, Sir James said he had hoped to have a statement from Mr. D. Seymour regarding thoee allowances which they thought should be retrospective. . Mr. Seymour said they wanted the principle applied subject to certain limitations. They would not compromise on principle, and where they did compromise it would. be a question of expediency. Sir James Allen said he wanted to know what the bill was to be. The Government had not settled war gratuities, - and that must depend upon what they had to meet m other directions. In regard to the promise to provide for dependants, as soon as he knew that men with six or seven children were going he stopped ii. Allowances were not madS earlier in order that single men might first be sent. In reply to a question, members okthe deputation said they wished children's allowances to be considered before gratuities. Sir James Alien said all would be considered together. He thought the-Gov-ernment had made fair provision- for the widowed mother. Mr. Gurfcayne: lor the widowed mother of a married man there is fair provision, but not for a single man. ■:. Sir James Allen: saidthe question would: be considered. Asto venereal disease, he did not s6et(/!lvy there should be any, di;ferenoe betweWi the civilian: aad the soidier. .■•.„;■' • ■ Board Policy a Success. : The Hon. TV. ft Herries said ail tha questions submitted would: he cofisTdered carefully. He believed the success" of repatriation work/ had been almost entirely due to the boards set up M different centres. There had never been any friction between them, and the Ministerial board policy- of decentralisation had proved a very wise one. The Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald expressed appreciation of the way in which the soldiers submitted their requests. The Hon. G. W. Russell said the. Cabinet had decided that it did not at present see any necessity for a Royal' Commission j to inquire regarding patriotic funds. Bach a commission, if .Bet. up, would have it huge task, which would take two? or three years if the where ,0! the patriotic; rands; -of the Dominion were to be inquired into. The Government desired only to see that the funds were tiled according to; law for the purpose .for/ which they were raiaed. ; The Government? had.no power to compel societies' to use funds-for the purpose for which they were raised* : It could only see they were not used for other purposes. He was compelled in 191? to- withdraw the compulsory clauses of. the Social Hygiene Bill, but wa& satisfied that at the first session when the question could i be considered, these clauses; mast« be; : reinstated. He gave an assurance> that soldiers . would not be treated differently from civilians. The Hon. D. H. Guthrie made.a brief statement in. reply to representations regarding the land ,■ policy. \ He had prepared a statement; he said; which" he was sending to Mr. Seymour, setting out the Government's position nn regard to the whole matter. This was in readiness* for the return of Mr. Massey, 36 that alterations in policy could be considered in the light of experience; 'OIMMeMIHIKkaMMiMMMImt