RETURNED SERVICES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25175, 16 March 1943, Page 4

RETURNED SERVICES

MEETING OF EXECUTIVE Tlie fortnightly meeting of the Executive Committee of the Dunedin Returned Services' Association was held last night. The president, Mr S. G. Scoular, occupied the chair, and there were also present— Messrs W. E. Earnshaw, A. McHutchon K W, K. Cameron, A. Duncan, W. F. Forrester, C. G. Hedge, H. P. Jefcoate, J. B. Stewart. W. H. Thomson, afnd C. R. McLean. Economic Allowance Writing in relation to the payment of the lo(jge sickness benefits to discharged soldiers who were suffering from war disabilities and were in receipt of a war pension, the district secretary of the A.O.F. (Mr J. K. Macfle) said, that the society had been informed that when a soldier member, in such circumstances, received the sickness allowances from friendly societies his economic allowance was affected and reduced. This was regarded as very unfair treatment, as all such members were entitled to the benefits for which they had paid. The Social Security Act, he added, laid it down that in computing the income of beneficiaries the amount received per week from a friendly society was not counted as income, and it was maintained that the same practice should be followed for the discharged soldiers with war disabilities. The secretary (Mr O. L.\ Ferens) reported that the A.O.F. had been advised of the association’s view that an exsoldier who had endeavoured throughout his life to be thrifty should not be penalised on that account. It had been pointed out that the sickness allowance payable by friendly societies did not affect the war disability pension, but it affected the economic allowance. The association would, he said, continue to press its representations until Its object was reached and friendly societies’ benefits were not treated as income. A remit on these lines was being forwarded to the annual Dominion Conference In June. Payment of Mufti • Allowance Advice was received from the Dominion Headquarters of the association that the Air Department authority ,for the payment of mufti allowance to members of the R.N.Z.A.F. who had been serving in New Zealand applied only to personnel who had been discharged on or after April 1. 1942. Other Business Reporting on the annual bowling match between the Invercargill and Dunedin Returned Services’ Associations, which had been played at Invercargill, Mr Thomson said that a team consisting of 32 players, including a rink of country members, had taken part. Dunedin had been successful in retaining the Grant Trophy. The nominations of 17 new members, including, 15 members of the 2nd N.Z.E.F., were approved. One honorary camp member was elected.