The Taranaki Herald. DAILY EVENING. MONDAY, JUNE 21, 1915. WAR PENSIONS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 144711, 21 June 1915, Page 2

The Taranaki Herald. DAILY EVENING. MONDAY, JUNE 21, 1915. WAR PENSIONS.

One. of tbe most important matters that will engage the attention of Parliament during tbe session that opens tins week will presumably bo the fixing of a scale of pensions for Hew Zealanders incapacitated in the war and for (be dependents of those who aro killed. The existing scale of pensions is not as generous as the people of the Dominion would like, but at the, same time it has in be considered that there are likely to be a great, number of pensioners and we must not allow our generosity to run away with us and lead us to fix a scale of pensions which it may subsequently be found impossible to pay. In Australia the pension payable to a widow on the death of a mem- ■ ber of iiic forces or to a member on total incapacity is, in the case of a lieutenant £Ol. per annum, a sri’GfCtint £-70 pov ainiuiu, \\ corporal iiGS per annum, and a private i’s‘2 per annum. In addition, on (he death or total incapacity of a member, for each child under sixteen years of age ,£ld per annum will be paid, and in the case of total incapacity the wife in addition will receive half the rate specified above for tbe respective ranks. Canada has a somewhat elaborate scale of pensions, dividing men .and officers into four degrees or classes, tho first degree comprising those only who are totally incapacitated as a result of injuries received or illness contracted in action or in the presence of tho enemy. The fourth degree applies to those who are rendered in a small way incapable of earning a living as a result of injuries received or illness contracted on active service, during drill or training, or on other duty. Tho second and third degrees comprise, as the terms suggest, men whose injuries aro more or less severe. The pensions

range from 75d01. to kc paid to privates of the fourth degree to INlidol, for privates of the first degree, and are to he increased hy one-third in the case of the first ami second degrees if a man s injuries necessitate* tlie constant services of an attendant, such as tho loss of both legs, arms, or eyes. Sergeants’ pensions rnngc from IOOdoI. in the fourth degree to RRGdol. in the first,; lieutenants’ from 144(1 01. to ISOdol., increasing with the rank until a Briga-dier-General gets OSGdol. in the fourth degree and 2100dol. in the first. In addition to the above rates a married officer, warrant officer, non-commissioned officer, or man totally incapacitated, may draw for his wife half the rate provided under the.present Pension Act for the widow and tho full rate for the children of an officer, etc., of his rank, subject to the limitation respecting the age of children. After the death of an officer .the. widow may then

draw tho full rato now provided for widows and children. Tho widowed mother of a totally disabled soldier may bo granted a pension at half tho rate fixed for a widow, provided the soldier is her solo support and unmarried. In tho event of a soldier’s death she may draw the full rate. Pensions may be paid to the widows and children of those who have been killed in action or who have died from injuries received or illness contracted on active service during drill nr training, or on other military duty, at the following rates, provided the soldier’s death was not duo to his own fault or negligence;—Hank and file, 22 dol. a month for widow and sdol. a month for each child; sergeant, 2Sdol. a month for widow and 0 dol .a month for each child; increasing according to rank until in Die case of a lieutenant OTdol. a month for widow and thiol, a month for each child is payable, and in the case of a Brigadiergeneral 101 Idol, a month for widow and llldnl. a month for each child. A widowed mother whose only son was her sole support, and unmarried, shall be eligible for pension as a widow without children. It will b.e Die duty of the I\ T cw Zealand Parliament to adopt a scale of pensions which avoids alike tho parsimony of the old British scale, which left many of its recipients in abject poverty, and the reckless system adopted by the United States Government after the Civil War. It is, we are sure, the wish of the people that tho scale adopted shall be as generous as the circumstances allow.