“WHOLLY INADEQUATE”

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9716, 19 July 1917, Page 3

“WHOLLY INADEQUATE”

PENSIONS FOR WOUNDED SODDLURS. ■ Two striking cases in point were cited in tlio House of Koprcscut&xives yesterday by air H. Poland, AI..P. for vllunemuri, in support of his contention that the present pensions granted to wounded soldiers arc “whoiiy inadequate.” At Te Aroha, for example, a soldier with a smashed loot and on two crutclifs had been allowed a pension of ill a week. But he showed that he could earn something by keeping a shooting gallery, and ha pension was cut down, to 10s a week. After a few weeks it would be taken away altogether. Another man, an Auckland citizen, who had lost an arm, got a pension of £2 a week. But ho now got -2 10s as a lift'attendant, and his pension also had been out down to 10s a week. It seemed that when a private employer was generous, the Government took advantage of it and cut down a man’s pension. The man was marribd, and Had £3 a week on which to keep his wife and bring up any children they might have. lie had hcen a blacksmith before he, went to the front, and if ho had not gone ho would now bo getting 14s a day; but os it was he was getting only Ids a day. A member: “There is no risk about his work.” Air Poland: “There is ri-k about it for a one-armed man.”

A member; “There are a lot of ups and downs about it.” (Laughter.) Air Poland: “That is so.” “What would those men do,' he added, “if it were not for the patriotic societies '(" He contended that the Government should give the men adequate pensions, and that they should not have to appeal to the patriotic societies. As showing how inadequate the pensions were, he stated that the Auckland Patriotic Society had dealt with 1741 claims last year; and 6080 payments, totalling £14,553, had been made to help returned soldiers and their wives and children. Bat thousands of cases never came before tho patriotic societies; and thousands of people were suffering in New Zealand to-day because of the tardiness and neglect of the Government. (Hear, hear.) If they did not deal with the matter in generous fashion before the session closed, they wore not, he declared, worthy of the position they occupied. Thovi were not worthy to come back to the House again. (Hear, hear.)