RETURNED SOLDIERS.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLV, Issue 11928, 23 October 1919, Page 5

RETURNED SOLDIERS.

Per Press Association. Wellington, Oct. 22. The Returned Soldiers’ Conference considered a remit from Wellington that the minimum pension be raised to 76s weekly for permanently totally disabled men. The pensions committee recommended that the schedule of pensions for specific injuries of the War Pensions Act, 1917, be increased by the addition of, plus percentages, up to 150 per cent, (that is 60s weekly), pensions and attendants’ pension to bo over and above such rate, and that dependents’ pensions be assessed at present rates. The president (Dr. Boxer) said the principle of plus percentages had been adopted in the French army because it was found impossible to grade injuries. Mr Andrews (Auckland) opposed the principle of supplementary pensions. He claimed that pensions should be granted as a right. The supplementary pension was charity, which returned • soldiers did not want. Broken returned men had not received a fair deal, and the association’s duty was to protect them. Discussion was postponed.