ASSISTING EX-SOLDIERS

Taranaki Daily News, 27 September 1930, Page 9

ASSISTING EX-SOLDIERS

GOVERNMENT TAKING ACTION CO-OPERATION WITH ASSOCIATION FINANCIAL PROVISION TO BE MADE (By Wire —Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, Last Night. An announcement was made by the Minister in charge of the Pensions Department, Mr. J. G. Cobbe, in the House of Representatives to-day, that a ■iiieasure of assistance had been practically decided on for the benefit of disabled ex-soldiers.

Asked when an opportunity would be given for the House to discuss the report of the Ex-Soldiers’ Rehabilitation Commission, Mr. Cobbe said he had received letters from all parts of the Dominion concerning the question, which called for fairly urgent action in the direction of giving some relief to numerous cases of men who were falling by the way and whose condition medical men were unable to attribute to war service. The Minister said a promise had been given that the report would be debated.

The Government had given consideration to several matters arising out of the report of the commission and a definite promise had been given that some financial provision would be made in a finance measure before the end of the Session. i

The most important recommendation made by the commissioners was in respect to the setting-up of a body to act practically independently of the Pensions Department. Negotiations had been taking place with the Returned Soldiers’ Association, and'after further consideration by Cabinet Mr. Cobbe hoped an undertaking would be reached with the association which would be satisfactory to all concerned. He added that to give effect to the whole of the commissioners’ recommendations would be too costly for the Government to undertake. There had been a feeling that the Government had been callous concerning disabled soldiers, but that was not so.