“BURNED OUT” MEN

Taranaki Daily News, 24 June 1935, Page 3

“BURNED OUT” MEN

SOLDIERS REQUIRING HELP. ' REQUEST FOR LEGISLATION. Reference to the legislation forecast by the Hon. W, IVLL.C., at the annual meeting of the Wellington Returned Soldiers* Association, is made in the annual report of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers* Association. The report states that the needs of prematurely “burned out” men is, without doubt, the ; most important matter that has come before the association. “During the 1934 session of Parlia- : / ment,” states the report, “Mr. J. A. Lee’s Bill was again introduced and read a first time.' The Minister of Pensions, in making his reply in the House, stated it was difficult for anyone to speak definitely on the proposed Bill until an opportunity to consider its provisions had been given. He agreed with a good deal that had been said by Mr. Lee. “In replying* to the introduction of the Bill, the Minister referred at length to the Pensions Department and tiie reasonable consideration given to the application of ex-soldiers for war pensions which was reflected in the figures which ' • showed that the amount paid in pensions, during the past year, had increased by £29,000. He also referred to the granting of pensions in cases where men were married within two "'‘years of their return, and. the requests for extension of the period. He had gone into this question and stated his assurance, although he could not make any definite promise until the Government had considered the matter, that there will be some alteration in the present law in regard to this matter. The two-year limit - did seem somewhat harsh but the .position has been reviewed carefully; he ; added that even an alteration in the eligible period from two years to five years would cost the country probably £35,000 per annum. There* has been no official advice regarding this proposed amending legislation. ' • ’• j “The committee, however, has drafted. .: a Bill in an endeavour to 'set out the circumstances and requirements, from the N.Z.R.S.A. point of view, and it is proposed to first place this before the / ex-soldier members of Parliament, then to send it to all members of the House, and finally arrange .for its presentation in the House. This will take time but it is confidently expected that full eon- > sideration will be given to the Bill before its presentation to Parliament In ; the meantime specific cases of prematurely aged and .‘burned out’ ex-servicemen are being collected from local associations and recorded as supporting evi(Jone©. ’ “This subject is, without doubt, the ' most important that has come before the N.Z.R.S.A., as-it not only deals with the, incapacitated now, but provides for those who will possibly need such assistance in tiie future and, this being so, the desirability of the full support of all ex-ser-vicemen, at the present time, is considerably increased.”

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