WAR PENSIONS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3312, 5 September 1917, Page 42

WAR PENSIONS.

DISCUSSION IN PARLIAMENT. A lively discussion on the work of the War Pensions Board occurred in the House on Wednesday. It was alleged by several members that the board, fair and just as_ its decisions might be generally, was not infallible, and thev urged that a pensions appeal board should be set up. One or two members said that the members of the board were becoming callous in dealing with applicants. Sir James Allen gave a very emphatic repudiation to the suggestion that the War Pensions. Board had become callous. He made the statement deliberately that as the days went by the board had become more and more liberal. Hundreds of cases had been reconsidered, and more liberal pensions given to the applicants. They were straining the law by granting pensions which perhaps ought not to be granted, so that the charge of callousness could not be sustained against members. _ Reference had been made to the commissioner. He did not know whether hon. members knew Mr Fache. Mr Lee: A most painstaking officer. Sir James Allen: He is a great deal more than a painstaking officer. I have never met a man with deeper sympathies than Mr Fache, and it is very largely owing to his care and consideration in dealing with applicants that the administration of the Act has been so liberal. He had very carefully considered the question of appointing an appeal board and he ventured to say that if an appeal board was set up the administration of the Act could not be so generous as it was now. The Pensions Board had ' not stuck closely to the letter of the law, but an appeal board would have to stick rigidly to the Act. Ho also wished to say that if a schedule of rates for particular industries was included in the Bill on the scale of the English Act the pensioners : n this country would have to suffer. Mr Lee:* We don't a.?k for a' schedule. An Hon. Member: But the Second Division has. Sir James Allen said that under the present arrangement a higher percentage was allowed for injuries than would be allowed under a schedule. He had an open mind on the matter, and the House would have an opportunity of saying whether a schedule should be put in. He gave this opinion to ' the House in order that members might consider the question. One of the clauses to be inserted in the Bill would be a clear statement that a man would not have his pension reduced because of any money he might earn. —(" Hear, hear.") Every man must bo encouraged to work, and every man must be given a certain assurance that he would not be penalised in loss of his pension by earning money for himself.