RETURNED SOLDIERS

Camp News, Volume 2, Issue 85, 15 August 1941, Page 6

RETURNED SOLDIERS

Full Pension More Than Army Pay

DISCHARGE PERIOD ISSUE

The return to New Zealand of numbers of soldiers who are at present incapable of resuming their civilian occupations has opened up in the minds of many persons interested in their welfare the question whether adequate provision has been made for their financial assistance and economic rehabilitation, and whether the proper method of attending to their medical needs has been adopted. The general opinion seems to be that the effect of the system used is to give the men the consideration they deserve, though the principle of discharging them from the Army at the end of 28 days is criticized.

However, those immediately associated with watching the interests of returned men apparently do not intend to press for the retention of the men under Army control for a longer period. The' reason for this is that the private soldier receiving full war pension is better off financially than he is under Army pay rates.

Pension Provisions.

A full war pension is £2 a week, with £1 a week for, the man’s wife, 10/- a week for a child, and provision for 30/a week economic pension where the man is unable to undertake employment. A married man with one child w6Md thus receive £5 if under full war pension ; in the Army he would get £4/0/6.

This fact, however, does not mean that interested organizations are satisfied with either the pay or pensions rates. Increases have been sought in the dependants’ allowances under both, on the grounds of increased costs of living. It has been argued that the wife of the serving soldier should receive a 50 per cent, increase in her allowance and that dependants’ pensions allowances also should be higher. Those who have supported the former increase are not satisfied with the 1/- a day domes tic allowance for wives with one or more children provided for in the recent Budget and coming into operation from the beginning of September.

Military Hospital Question.

Another question which is being asked is why returned soldiers should be placed in civilian and not military hospitals. There are no military hospitals, that • is, hospitals which are under the direct control of the Army, and it is the Health Department which exercises general supervision over this aspect of a soldier’s repatriation. However, it is agreed by those who have looked into the matter that the men are receiving the best of attention.