MILITARY PENSIONS

New Zealand Times, Volume XL, Issue 9172, 12 October 1915, Page 7

MILITARY PENSIONS

MEMBERS URGE AMENDMENTS. The Defence Amendment BUI was read a second time on the motion of the .Hon. J. Allen.; The hill provides for the payment of pensions to the dependents of members of the Expeditionary Force who may die; within the Dominion. A sub-clause provide® that for the purpose of computing the amount of pension payable the War Pensions Board shall take into consideration the fact that death took place in New Zealand. The bill is made retrospective. Provision is made for the recognition of 'a volunteer National Reserve, to consist of men over the age of 30 year*. Mr J. McCombs took exception to the inclusion in the Bill of a direct hint fc the board that it should reduce j luJ pension to the depend salts of a man ; who died in the Dominion.- The proposal was niggardly, and he would move in committee' that the isub-olause he deleted. .- .

Mr W. H. Field (Otaki) thought that tho proposal could very well be abandoned.

Mr P. C. Webb (Grjy) urged that tho country hod’ a,' right; ’to provide as generously for meningitis victims and others suffering from. - , disease contracted in home oampa.aa for those maimed at Gallipoli. Mr J. Payne (Grey, I.ynn) thought that the Minister would he glad to remove the clause, seeing that much of the death and' suffering had l been caused by the almost criminal negligence of tho Defence authorities in. carrying out what they called their "hardening process/’ .Mr C. J. Parr (Eden) regretted that provision was not made for the payment of pensions to persons l , residing out of the Dominion. He quoted - the case of an officer whose . wife was an English Woman,'and who had xio relatives in the Dominion. - Should ho ho killed. Bis wife would he. unable bo go Home without losing her pension. He thought * a certain amount r.f discretion in such cases should be left with the Pensions Board or some other tribunal. •- Mr T. A. H. Field (Nelson) urged the withdrawal of the sub-clause relating to men dying or becoming incapacitated in -the-Dominion. Mr" J. A; Young (Waikato) said that men who had come out to the . Dominion to settle, a.ud,who had not hid time to bring -out their wives, had gone to the ■ front.; . These women should: not be* deprived of their pesnaions.. He suggested that the Minister' should arrange some scheme of reciprocity with tho Im;perial Government. Mr H. '• G. •• BQJ (CBvistchurch , South) also .'Urged* the payment of pensions'to ■ widows'* of .New'i Zealand; soldiers who "might desire to live inf New Zealand with their people. It would not do for the Government to allow pensioners to live an any part of tho world, and draw money out of; tho Dominion, hut the question could, very well bo left to the discretion of thoboard,* ■■■' ' Dr, H. T. J. Thacker (Christchurch Fast) thought, that, hon. meauberti have ' misunderstood the sub-clause to which objection was taken. He thought that the hoard might* ho asked to treat these cases as special cases, as the relatives of, the men had to pay ail their burial and other expenses. ■ Ho hoped that tho bill would he mqde retrospective in these cases. Mr G. Witty (Eiccarton) supported amendment ■of the hill on the lines suggested by previous ■ speakers. Much of the disease at, Trcuthaan camp may have been caused by the fact that dirty timber from Egypt was taken oft the troopships and used at Trcntham camp. (Disorder.) - Mr Witty: "Well, *,will* the .Minister deny itf” . .*•■":■; ■:■ .*■>■. ■■ Mr Allen: "Some of the timber., may have been bought by a storekeeper for his 1 dtore. Con you prove it , was used at all* ’’ - ■ *' . ■ ■ 'Mr Witty: “It is the duty of the Minister to find out who was responsible for the use of the timber, and how it was -.used..’’ , - ’ • Mr Allen: “Oh! Don t make suoh wild statements/’ , . Mr B. McCallum' (Wairau) hoped that every encouragement wound be given for the formation and training of,branches of the National Reserve. ■; The Hon. J. Allen, in reply, expressed tho hope that the House would allow the sub-clause to remain. There were, reasons tor its insertion. ,The Pensions Board' had tho discretion of granting the full pension if it thought fit. ’On the other hand, men might die for reasons which, might have ,arisen through indiscretions of their own. Regulations for the. National Reserve would bo drawn up as soon as. possible, after oomsultatdon with the Defence aulihoidties., Steps would be taken'to seek reciprocaty with the Imperial* and Commonwealth Governments with regard to the payment of pensions. Ho had already agreed to tho payment of a pension to , a widow of a New Zealander who is residing in the Dominion. . In committee Mr T. M. Wilfordi (Hutt) moved an amendment substituting "may’’ for “shall" in. the sub-clause directing the Pensions Board to give special* oonsideration to. the fact tint death has taken place in the Dominion. Ho agreed that there might be cases where no pension should be paid. * . Mr Allen accepted the amendment; at the 'same time* expressing, doubt as to whether it .was in order, - ,as it seemed to him that it might mean, on* increased charge on the revenue. Mr McCombs expressed' dissatisfaction with the amendment, which ho claimed did not cover -the oaafei fully. The sub-clause, as amended wa« eventually carried,on the voice). The bill .was reported, read , a third time and passed.