COMPENSATION SOUGHT

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21420, 12 March 1935, Page 6

COMPENSATION SOUGHT

PREMATURELY AGED SOLDIERS GOVERNMENT TO BE APPROACHED An attempt to obtain a special Act of Parliament to provide adequate compensation for those returned soldiers who come under the heading of -prematurely aged and burned out soldiers" will be made by the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association. A circular to this effect, asking for the co-operation of local associations, was received from headquarters by the executive of the Christchurch Returned Soldiers' Association at its meeting last evening.' Members were emphatic that the question was of outstanding importance and that every assistance should be given to the attempt. The proposed legislation is to apply to men of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force and other forces, who are not at present eligible for a war pension, but nevertheless have obviously been incapacitated to a greater or less degree because of their war service. "This effort," the circular stated, "'is the most important that the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association has faced, and every ex-service man must give his active support to the local branch and so strengthen our representations, in order that success will result." The Present Position The salient points of the present position were set down as follows: "(1) Our war pensions legislation, with the exception of the points urged for years on the Government (such as the wives and widows war pension provisions), is the equal of any othei system of war pensions for those with recorded disablements on war service, with relevant medical and lay evidence supporting their claims. "(2) It must be remembered that the wounded and disabled men were the minority of our forces; the majority were those who were in the line and at the bases, presumably Fit A, when the war ended. "(3) The majority, when the Armistice was signed and demobilisation commenced, desired nothing more than to get out of the army and, when medically examined before being discharged, "cracked hearty' and claimed to be "Fit A." . "(4) The years of repatriation have been intensely hard for the majority, particularly, the younger men, and economic troubles have proved in veiy many instances more vicious and merciless than war; so that the stamina and constitutions which brought the majority of the New Zealand iiixpoditionary Force through the years 19141918 have been unable to stand the terrific strain. "(5) These men are swelling the ranks of the prematurely aged and "burnt out" soldiers. Men between the ages of 39-50 years, who were the cream of our manhood, aic becoming infirm aged and necessitous at the age when they should be in their prime. They are not wanted or considered by the vast majority of employers, and their outlook for the futuie is daik and dismal. Use of Patriotic Funds "iG) The patriotic and other exsoldier funds at the close of the war have rendered and continue to render wonderful assistance, but they aic being rapidlv diminished by the urgent and pitiful needs of those who lought and arc still fighting for the light to live "(7) Of the large sums of cx-sorvicc men's funds (Canteen Funds, National War Funds Council, and Poppy Day collections) from 1927-1934, the huge sum of more than £234,000 (excluding subsidies) has been expended lo relieve distress arising from unemployment amongst ex-service men. lneie are no signs of improvement lor these ex-service men who are unemployed, who number almost 20 per cent, ot the total registered unemployed. "The funds cannot continue this expense indefinitely; the rate of expenditure on relief at present is roughly £44 000 per annum (excluding subsidies which are becoming increasingly difficult to obtain). "(8) These funds were intended for the needs of the ex-service men and their dependents in years to come to prevent the necessity of chautablc ui . Circumstances are such that theie must be some provision made by the Government, on behalf of the State, to ensure that those who made such sacrifices for King and Countiy aic honourably compensated in their declining years. "(9) The universal cry nab been lack of finance but the response to Ihe demands for unemployment funds has been and is being, met and no claim upon the State is more worthy or urgent than that of the necessitous exservice men." Action in Other Countries The circular added that the problem had been recognised in Canada, where the necessary legislation had been provided, and in Britain, where the burden had been assumed by the British Legion Prince of Wales Pensior Fund. Local associations are asked tc collect the names and regimental numbers, with details of the ages, dependents,' mode of living and general circumstances, of all returned men considered to be in the category mentioned (i.e., not able to obtain wai pension, but obviously disabled in some way). The circular also requested thai the subject should be made widelj known among all members and the public. , , ~ Mr W. E. Leadley moved that the number of circulars, necessary to send one to each member of the association together with the annual report, should be printed. "We must remember that this is election year," said Mr Leadley, "anc that the present is the time to pust for the rectification of these anomalies." Mr A. L. Emerson: Does that come under the heading of bribery of , the electors? i Mr Leadley: I don't care how you get it, whether by bribery or corrupI tion. It should have been done years I ago. . ! The motion was carried.