WAR PENSIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16547, 22 November 1915, Page 2

WAR PENSIONS

QUESTION OF ADMINISTRATION,

GREATER LIBERALITY URGED.

AMENDMENT OF ACT SUGGESTED.

(Fbom Oua Own Cohbesfondbnt.s

WELLINGTON, November 20.

The War Pensions Act came in for some more severe criticism at the meeting of delegates of patriotic societies yesterday. Mr Ongley (Mayor of Feildmg) made reference to the niggardly administration of the Act, as shown by the fact that very few applicants were being granted full pensions. Patriotic societies were being asked to supplement these inadequate pensions. Mr Ferguson: I am afraid there will be a tendency on the part of the authorities to rely on the patriotic funds to supplement the pensions by application to the funds. I think all our pensions legislation is entirely wrong —old-age pensions and all the rest. If a person is thrifty we penalise him for his thrift, and if a person is improvident wo pay him for it. That is entirely wrong, in my opinion- I think a person who has been thrifty should be encouraged by getting a little reward for his thrift. Mr Master (Taranaki) had something to sav' about the conduct of the conference just concluded, at which the Minister of Internal Affairs had presided. "I think the manner in which this conference was conducted to-day was very 'cute,' " he said. Mr Ferguson: itiear, hear. We were rushed into agreeing to a lot of resolutions without considering what thev involved." Mr Master said it was 'clear to him that it was the intention of the Government to use the moneys subscribed for. wounded soldiers for other purposes, and the societies should leave no stone unturned to prevent this. The Hon. Mr Paul agreed that the societies would have to be very vigilant on this matter. Ho also agreed that it was very wrong that .tho necessities of dependents Should be taken into consideration by the board in assessing pensions. But for the fear of endangering recruiting a very bad . case could be made out against the authorities for their pensions administration. ' Mr Ferguson said the law provided that the board could take into consideration not only tho resources of the dependents, but the resources of those liable at law for their maintenance. This nrovision was very wide. He considered that the country by such a law was evading its proper responsibilities to the dependents of soldiers. Mr Tripp (Wellington) said he knew a voung man who was going to the war, leaving dependents behind him. Knowing tho circumstances, ho offered to pay for an insurance policy, but tho man replied that this would be no good to him, because if he were killed the pensions payaJblc to his dependents would be reduced in proportion to the insurance money. Mr Cray (Timaru * said the board was not to blame. It was tho Act that was at fault. The board had no latitude to bo liberal. He thought the meeting should ask tho Minister in charge of pensions to bring down' an amendment of the Act, and to make it retrospective in application. Finally, the following resolution, proposed by Mr Ongley, was carried:—"That in the opinion of this meeting the Pensions Act should be more liberally interpreted by the board, and should bo amended bv an alteration of subsection 2 of section 15, so as to provide that the dependents of soldiers may get their pensions without their means being taken into consideration." The meeting decided to lay this resolution before the Minister (Mr_ Myers), and when this desire was communicated to him, Mr Myers came ,to the meeting. Mr Ferguson then put the case before him. Mr Myers said he was glad to hear what tho conference had to say on the subject. He did not think the statement that members of the board were treating the applications in a niggardl- way was justifiable. Whatever blame could be attached to any body was attachable to Parliament, which had passed tho Act in its present shape. Clause 2 particularly stated that' the board should take into consideration the property and incomo from all sources of dependents applying for pensions, and also of all persons liable at law for their maintenance. The responsibility for this clause rested with members of Parliament. However, it was quite clear that there was throughout tho eountrv a strong feeling, and rightly so. that those who unfortunately had to apply for tensions should be treated liberally. He thought it was quite evident as the result of experience that it would be necessary for the Cabinet to reconsider the position. "T don't think for a moment," ho said, " that it was ever contemnlatrd_ that because anyone had been thrifty his dependents should be Denalised. I may say that I have noticed that aspect of the business. and I am bringing it before tho Cabinet at its next meeting. I think tho matter is so ureent that it should be considered forthwith. It is unfortunate that this position has to faced, but I think you may be assured that the CaVnet will deal with it at its riext meeting—with what result I am not,' of coutso, in a position to say." _________________