DISABLED SOLDIERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20930, 21 July 1931, Page 13

DISABLED SOLDIERS.

, Sir, —Much has been said of the Military Appeal Board and the War Pensions Department regarding soldiers' pensions. I consider a public inquiry should be opened to go into the whole affair, with the aim of devising a practical scheme that, will pay financially and place all our disabled men in secondary and primary industries on their own account as much as possible. Care should be taken not to let the scheme prove a* failure by an overstaffed administration of unsuitable and inexperienced persons. The cost to the country by the present method, considering the small amounts of pensions authorised, is ridiculous, and many a deserving case is not getting justice. In the majority of cases the disabled soldiers are of a fine type and should "be given every opportunity of having either a small farm or be set up at manufacturing on their own account, with a tariff or subsidy to protect their industries. I suggest that a permanent public sweepstake bo allowed to assist the funds needed and that employment be given to New Zealand soldiers to carry on the sweepstake business under State supervision. Unemployment is at present serious, but let us not forget our duly to these men who saved us in our darkest hours of war. Lest We Forge l ).