DISABLED SOLDIERS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 18975, 28 March 1924, Page 9

DISABLED SOLDIERS

PENSION BOARD CRITICISED. (Per Press Association).’ CHRISTCHURCH. March 27. A meeting of about fifty disabled returned soldiers was held last night and resolved to wait on the Prime Minister, also on urging the U.S.A, to (1) Press-the Government for the abolition of th e economic pension and raising the ordinary pension to a maximum of £3 10s per week; (2) make endeavours to have pensions granted to T.B. men; (3) ask the Government to provide work in the Civil Service .for partially disabled men; (4) have the system of using policemen to mak e investigations regarding economic pensions discontinued: (5) make representation to have economic pensions granted irrespective of the rate of the ordinary pensiofli. Tho opinion was strongly expressed that tho men wanted work rather than to have pensions. In criticisms of the Pensions Board the secretary said the full pension was £2, but an economic pension of 30s was incorporated in the Act. The Association was not going to stand up for the deliberate slacker, but it was going to do its best for the man who really tried to got work. Most of the men at the Heihei settlement were getting pensions of 30s or £2 per Week, but Were refused cconomc pensions on the ground that they were working. They might'be working, but they were-not earning anything, and in many cases tho expenditure was in excess of the income. They were undergoing part of their treatment for tuberculosis. Tho Act, said the Board, must take into consideration personal earnings and the Board was certainly not carrying out the directions of Parliament. One man was in bed yet, his pension of 30s Was to stop on March 31st "because of his income.”