WAR PENSIONS SYSTEM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19291, 1 April 1926, Page 11

WAR PENSIONS SYSTEM.

request for extension. CONSIDERATION ON MERITS. r BY TELEGRAPH --PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON.. TCednesdby. \ deputation from tlie New ZealUnd Returned Soldiers- Association which waited on the Prime Minister and the Ministers of Defence and Lands yesterday urged a further extension of the war- pensions system. Mr A T. Duncan said in regard to pension,'lor m*»s ot »Mlm Mfto&S [rora 100 per rent, disability, that ffle wife received a pension if tlie soldier liad married before he went on active service, or if ho had married within two years- of receiving his discharge. But the wife of a soldier with a disability who had married after a period of two years, received no pension at all. He maintained that this was a curious anomaly and «no that seemed to be against the weight of reason. It was desired to, have; this limitation removed so far as all those soldiers with 100 per cent, disability were concerned. .„ . „ The Minister of Defence said he did not know of amy country that gave this concession. , The Prime Minister said he thought a series of eases would be necessary to see how such a concession would work out. Tho mere fact of a thing being asked for did not in itself justify the granting of a request The Minister of Lands said' that the aftermath of the American Ci\ol War was an illustration of bow soldiers' pensions might be abused. It had been found there that a soldier- might receive a pension for 40 years, then get married at the age of 60 or TO to a woman of 20, The pension would then go on for- the lifetime of tho latter. It was necessary to guard against the possibility of such an extension of the pension system.. The Prime Mini,iter said tho request would be considerd on its merits.