PENSION PROPOSAL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 246, 17 October 1936, Page 11

PENSION PROPOSAL

SOLDIERS’ WIDOWS TOPICS IN THE HOUSE TRIBUTES TO COLONEL BELL

I Per Press Association] WELLINGTON, Oct. 16. The House met at 10.30 o’clock. Reporting on the petition of an elderly soldier’s widow, who sought a pension, Mr W. Lyon (Waitemata), chairman of the Defence Committee, said that the committee was of opinion that, owing to the number of cases of elderly widows in distressed circumstances coming before the committee, the committee recommended that the plight of such widows should be considered by the Government when dealing with the coming national superanuation scheme. Mr W. J. Polson (Stratford) said that the petitioner’s husband, although both wounded and gassed in the war, could not prove attributability. It was thought by the Returned Soldiers’ Association that the recent legislation would cover such a case, but it was discovered that it did not do so. Late Colonel Bell The Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage moved that the House records its high sense of the service rendered the Dominion by Colonel Allen Bell, and expresses sympathy with the relatives. Mr Savage said that Colonel Bell’s record left little to be desired in the way of public service. His heart and soul was in most public movements, and he had always played an important part in anything that looked like being for the public good. He did his best according to his lights. While he was in the House he was by no means a seat warmer. He thought that there were not enough Colonel Bells in the community, for he was never afraid of expressing his opinions. The Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes said that Colonel Bell was a man who made many friends. He was a man of cheery disposition, and he had a philosophic outlook. He was a strong champion of North Auckland, and did his best to make members acquainted with that part of the Dominion. After further references the motion was carried and the House adjourned till 2.30 as a mark of respect.