THE ECONOMIC PENSION.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20495, 14 March 1932, Page 15

THE ECONOMIC PENSION.

EFFECT OF REDUCTION ON EX-SOLDIERS. The effect of the proposed reduction of the economic pension in 1932-83 and its abolition'.in 1933-34, according to Mr E. F. Willcox, secretary, of the Christchurcli Returned Soldiera' Association, will be to bring the pension of the disabled soldier below the ordinary standard of living. The pension for complete disability, Mr Willcox said, was £2 per week, and it was the economic pension 'and the pensions in respect of wife and children that brought it up to an ordinary living \v;inY>. The effect of reducing the economic pension one-half would be to make it 13s 6d per week—a reduction that would be too drastic. Wben the eeo- j nomic pension of 80s per week was granted, superseding the supplement-! ary pension of 20s per week, the understanding was that in the event of a reduction in the cost of living the pension would be decreased proportionately. In accordance with that understanding the economic pension last year was reduced by 10 per cent. The proposed reduction by 50 per cent, probably would affect the partlydisabled man more than the wholly disabled man. It would affoct, also, the man wbi> could not obtain, or retain, employment.