THE DISABLED SOLDIER

Waipa Post, Volume 31, Issue 1766, 5 June 1926, Page 5

THE DISABLED SOLDIER

EMPLOYMENT OR PENSION?

By Telegraph. Press Association 1 WELLINGTON, Friday.

IThe annual report of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association states that it is too early yet to ar-

rive at any definite conclusions as to whether or not the scheme approved by the Pensions and Labour Departments for the employment of disabled ex-soldiers, which was put into active operation, last February, is proving successful. So far, hOAvever, it could be said definitely that the notices from the Pensions Department as to alterations in the grants of the economic pension had contained more renewals of grants than cancellations.

‘•The fact of some £70,00-0 being expended annually in the form of economic pensions, for while the Government obtains no return by way of services,” states the report, ‘‘is as unpalatable to the recipients, of the money as it is to the general taxpayer. Surely, "if the Government can expend such a sum for no return it can expend a further amount in an endeavour to provide vacancies or useful work for the permanent employment of the majority of tine men concerned.”

The executive standing sub-com-mittee has recently heard, of two avenues for the employment of disabled soldiers in co-operative efforts, and it intends going thoroughly into the matter at the first opportunity.