EX-SOLDIERS' PENSIONS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19699, 3 August 1938, Page 13

EX-SOLDIERS' PENSIONS

NEW LEGISLATION NUMBER OF ANOMALIES "When the legislation dealing with war veterans' allowances was enacted, it was welcomed as a measure which would materially assist a class a*' ex-serviceman not hitherto provided for under the pensions legislation; so far the administration of the Act has revealed a number of anomalies which have been the subject of deputations, interviews, and corresp: ndence, and it is hoped that in the nar future these anomalies will be r emoved," stated the annual report o" '.lie New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association presented tit the Dominion conference. After repeated representations Patriotic Society and R.S.A. grants or moneys granted or earned from Poppy Day funds were declared ox -mnt as incrme when assessing relic' allocations. However, it was pointed aut that the recipients of the war eterans' allowance were not included in this concession on account of the fact that they already received the maximum income allowable under the Act. After further representations, the .recipients of the war veterans' allowance received the Christmas b~nus granted by the Department o f labour, without having same deducted as income. In March, 1938, the plight of these recipients was again Dlaced before the Prime Minister and Ministers o r the Crown, and special memoranda regarding specific men were presented to the Prime Minister, Minister of Finance, and Minister in Charge of Pensions. Nevertheless, after 20 years' experience in handling war veterans, the committee is definitely of the opinion that these men should be treated as a separate problem, under special legislation, and not grouped with any general scheme affecting national health and superannuation.