WAR AMPUTEES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25069, 10 November 1942, Page 4

WAR AMPUTEES

QUESTION OF PENSIONS

In a report submitted by Mr W. R. Cameron, on behalf of the Pensions Committee, to a meeting of the Executive Committee of the Returned Services’ Association last night, a rebuttal was made of statements contained in a report that came before the meeting of the committee of the Otago artd Southland War Amputees’ Association' by local delegates to the New Zealand conference of that organisation. The amputees’ delegates, referring to the tenor of the reply of the Minister of Defence to . their ‘ conference representatives regarding pensions, were credited with stating that it could only be concluded that had the Executive Committee of the New Zealand Returned Services’ Association approached the Minister as it was requested to do by the association’s annual conference in 1939, there was every reason to feel sure that success would have been achieved in the request for increased pensions. A reference to the minutes of the Dominion Executive of the association, Mr Cameron Said" showed that this statement had no basis in fact. The .association’s conference Pensions Committee, which had before it a - report from the New Zealand War Amputees’ conference embodying certain proposals, including one for an increase in the basic pension, recommended that the report be referred to the Dominion Executive for its consideration, with special reference to certain clauses, and also the provision of travelling warrants for attendants. Making this recommendation the Dominion Committee stated that it was unable to deal ifi detail 'with these matters. The conference approved of the committee’s recommendation, without any direction or request to approach the Minister.

The records showed further, the statement added, that the Dominion Executive Committee, after full investigation, ulitimately decided against the proposed increase in the basic pension, that at a subsequent annual conference a remit from the Dunedin Returned Services’ Association embodying a similar programme was defeated, and that a still later conference reached the same decision. It was decided to forward a copy of the statement to the local committee of the Amputees’ Association.