WAR PENSIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27166, 23 August 1949, Page 6

WAR PENSIONS

cj r t think it is somewhat unfortunate that you published the remark of sf r Howard Kippenberger that returned servicemen were “ pleased with the sfiPht increase in pensions. Pensioners were offiy " Pleased” to the same extent that Lazarus was no doubt “pleased if he got a few extra crumbs from the visualise the hundreds of millions of pounds, referred to by Mr xrash in his Budget—and remembering the h huge slices of cake (represented by luxury trips abroad, luxury cars, pensions etc handed out to favoured politicians and their assistants), and realising that these luxuries have only been made Possible by the suffering; sacrifice of health, earning capacity, and many things that go to make life happy for these nensioners, one feels ashamed of the treatment meted out to them by those who are enjoying to the full the benefits of such service and sacrifice. PH?”?, debate on the Budget we shall listen with interest to the views of our local M.P.’s.—l am, etc.. “• a ’

Sir,—l cannot ever quite understand when Mr Nash, Minister of Finance, reads his annual Budget, and, dealing with the pension granted an ex-soldier for total disability he always > brings forth a couple of children, ditto a mothers allowance, to make it wonderful. For instance. take an exsoldier nensionor of World War I. ri6 would not have any children of an age to draw £1 per week, consequently there would be no mother’s allowance. This Government cannot escape this last Budget. The bare fact is that for total disability the pension remains at £3 10s per week, plus an economic pension carrying a means test. It looks rather frail against the politicians’ pension of £8 per week with no means test or any tass. Mr Nash also stated that the children’s allowance, in so far as war pensioners were concerned, would remain at 10s per week. Could I remind him that a previous Government paid a higher - rate for each child, but some years ago the present Minister of Finance reduced.. Deep down there is no love for the soldier In the meantime, I would say to our association: ‘‘Take the gloves off. It is overdue. From every hole and corner of New Zealand, from every household, where resides a disabled ex-soldier, 'Arrange a deputation to wait immediately on Mr Nash and demand at least for total disability a pension on a par with what they so generously voted themselves out of the taxpayers’ pockets. The Budget debate will be heard over the air. Now is the hour, and at least we will hear the expressed views of, I hope our new Government in perspective, and through them justice is assured. I am. etc.. BaUot Box ’