PALTRY PENSIONS

NZ Truth, Issue 571, 27 May 1916, Page 3

PALTRY PENSIONS

A Word from Webb

How Recruiting is Being Retarded

A Punch on Plute's Solar Plexus,

On Tuesday evening Mr. Allen, the Minister for Defence, brought forward his War Pensions Amendment Bill. In an informative introduction the Minister reviewed the vrork of the Pensions' Board and explained the roasons of the Board's action m interpreting the Act, more m the letter than m the spirit of liberalty which the House and the Government desired. Latterly, ho declared, the Board has been much more liberal m its interpretation, and hence had given greater satisfaction to all concerned. So far as "Truth" can gather, there is not a single amendment contained m the new Bill that has not been advocated m these columns — that was not so advocated when the original Bill was before the House; but there is MUCH NOT IN THE BILL that "Truth" has advocated, and will continue to advocate, until the National Government is compelled to adopt and legislate upon the lines suggested. Scarcely a member who spoke on the Bill failed to voice In the House the suggestion brought forward m last week's "Truth," and some of the members did this paper the honor of quoting such suggestions —almost word for Word— of course, without acknowledging their source. After Mr. Poland had spoken, the member for Grey caught the Speaker's eye, and instantly the public galleries were agog with expectation. Webb was m fine form and m forceful voice. His force, however, was not confined to the artVof articulation. His language was terse, intense and impelling. He declared that the House and the , country had waited for six months on the Bill, and now, he was sure, the country, like himself, would.be grievously disappointed. He thought that as New Zealand- had ; experienced a year of wonderful prosperity, the Government would hxrve manifested a spirit of true patriotism by making it possible for ; the dependents of our soldiers to live m comfort Under the new Bill, -.as under the present Act, this was impossible. He told the story of an old Scotsman, th© father of feur sons, one an invalid. His other three boys volunteered. One was killed, another was dangerously wounded, and the third is now fighting ■In Flanders. The old man himself is now •an industrial wreck and quite incapable of work. He applied for a pension, and received word the other day that ten shillings a week had been granted him. This old fellow, who GAVE. THREE SONS to fight for his country was practically living on the bounty of his neighbors! The boy who had been: killed, while alive, had allowed his parents twentyone shillings per week. Now the father got ten shillings with which to keep a wife and an invalid son of 24 years of age. "I want to say this," cried tho member for Grey m passionate tones, "it is no use Ministers or members of this House who never have associated with the "poor, who never come m contact with the workers, speaking as they do. They do not understand the real position. How could they? It is quite impossible for them to appreciate the fact that it is an utter impossibility for a man to keep his dependents m anything like comfort on the amounts we are proposing to allocate as pensions, and as pay for a soldier. If : it was worth 10s a day to clean streets surely it was worth more than 5s a day to stop bullets." The honorable member went on to say that many dependents of soldiers who had bled- at Gallipoli were unable to buy the butter, cheese, meat and bread produced m sugh large quantities m this country. In many cases they were selling New Zealand foodstuffs cheaper m England than the dependents of their soldiers could buy. them here. The Dominion was getting record prices for its produce, and yet they were told that the Government could not see their way clear to increase tho .pensions. There should bo a STIFF TAX ON LAND VALUES for war profits, m order to pay not 365, but at least £2 10s a week to disabled soldiers. When millions were being got m war profits more should be paid m pensions. He had met many returned soldiers who had not got v penny to buy themselves a smoke with. What effect must such treatment have on recruiting? "I want to say to tho Minister," said Mr. Webb, "<hat U is proposed to i pass a Conscription Bill. That will mean that where a man is physically fit, Irrespective of his domestic obligations, he will bo called upon to go to the front. Po Ministers and members realise the seriousness of the situation? If tho State requires that then the State should bo ablo to say: We j requlro your husband, your brother, ' your son, but In return you shall have j tho same income corning Into your home, and it shall continue to be paid to you during tho ABSENCE OF YOUR BREADWINNER at tho front" ».*„«, Mr Web^then referred to what waa bolng dono In Australia, and pointed out that the New South Wales Government was bringing In legislation to give effect to the principle ,ho lmd enumerated In rogard to tho aoldlor'a Income. After referring at »om« length to tho fact that other ractw— row of color-wero comlnK Into lho country and taking up tho Jobs of the men who had gone to «f?ht for tho llofc' and the hono? of Britain. Mr Webb concluded j with a strong denunciation of tho Inaction'of the Government In not putUng an end t0 tho Proflt-Plnehlns practices of Plute, ihe wordu coming SSS him with an 'expulsive force that run* from end to end of tho chamber. "If thte House endorses the cowardly action of tho Government by allowing j v few men to pllo up millions while » the rest are sheddlnk' their blood, they { are makini? not only a Berioiw but a j criminal blunder!" The member for j Gre> was listened to with rapt «ir«estness, tho occupants of tho public gallery palpably endorsing hia remark* from A to Z.