BRITISH EX-SERVICEMEN

Otago Witness, Issue 3595, 6 February 1923, Page 19

BRITISH EX-SERVICEMEN

LONDON, January 28. Mr Bonar Law, in a letter replying to Mr Sidney Webb’s statement that there were serious gaps between the various schemes in operation for the assistance of disabled sick and unemployed ex-seTvice-men, declared that £151,000,000 will be expended on these schemes during the financial year, including £68,000,000 in pensions, £27,000,000 in medical and sickness benefits, £44,000,000 in unemployment pay, and £12,000,000 in Poor Law relief to able-bodied unemployed. The Prime Minister states that the British pension scheme is not only just, hut generous. He said that he was prepared to consider if there are any gaps which should be filled; but he loins issue with Mr Webb in the hypothesis that every person in need is entitled to look to the State for work or maintenance. January 29. Their Majesties the King and Queen arrived at St. Pancras Station from Sandringham this morning. When they were walking towards their car a crippled exserviceman hobbled from behind a line of taxicabs towards their Majesties and raised a thick stick. The police seized him when he was five yards from their Majesties, who ignored the incident and entered their par. The man’s name is Abraham. He waa removed to the infirmary. The police believe that lie is not responsible for his actions. Abraham is a one-legged man, who is suffering from shell shock. He used hiis crutch, not a stick. January 30. Two hundred ex-servicemen who were dismissed for reasons of economy from the unemployment branch of the Ministry of Labour, protesting against the continued employment of girls, walked in at the usual hour, hung up their coats, and sat at their desks waiting for something to turn up. The officials say that no action will he taken, as the men will tire of protesting sooner or later ; but the officials of the Ex-servicemen’s Association propose to pnv the men’s expenses and provide them with meals, declaring that 700 girls are being retained. An official of the Ministry of LaDour states that Cabinet has ordered the employment of girls at such work.