COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ANNOUNCED

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18890, 15 October 1929, Page 15

COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ANNOUNCED

INCAPACITY OF RETURNED SOLDIERS TO BE INVESTIGATED,

Per Press Association. WELLINGTON. October 14. The order of reference for the Commission to inquire into the position of soldiers physically and economically incapacitated was approved by Cabinet to-day. The Commission is to report by February 10 next. The inquiry is to relate to the condition and circumstances of persons, “being now residents of the Dominion,” whether men or women, who were engaged in the military, naval or air service in the late war, the South African campaign or the Maori War, and who at the present time are not in a position adequately to maintain themselves and their dependants. The Commission is instructed to inquire into the adequacy of the present provisions for meeting the requirements of persons affected, and into the necessity or expediency of making further statutory provisions. The points of inquiry fall under six heads, as follow: (1) The present condition and circumstances of the persons concerned, their approximate number. and the nature of their disabilities. (2) The adequacy of the sources at present available, and the sufficiency of the methods employed for alleviation of the condition of such persons, whether by pension from the Crown, by allowance from funds created or available for the purpose, by existing statutory facilities for land settlement, establishment in business, financial assistance, special training and treatment and otherwise. (3) General means by which the remaining capacity of such persons can best be utilised, so as to enable them in whole or in part to maintain themselves and their dependants, and the advisability or otherwise of adopting any particular means which may be proposed to or by you for that purpose. (4) In cases where no means are I likely to enable such persons to be able by their own efforts either partially or wholly to maintain themselves and their dependants the best means of affording assistance to them.

<o) The classes of persons who should come within the scope of any of your recommendations and the principles governing such classifications. (6) The necessity for legislation to enable all or any recommendations that you may make to be carried into effect.

The Commission consists of Mr T. S. Barton. S.M. (chairman). Sir John Luke (Wellington) and Mr S. J. Harrison (secretary of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association).