NEW ZEALAND MAORI WAR VETERANS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1277, 4 November 1911, Page 13

NEW ZEALAND MAORI WAR VETERANS.

Sir,—Last night the debate came on to pensions asked for from tho above veterans. The Prime Minister brought up a Bill in lieu of the old ape pensions, but tho conditions and restrictions aro (ho same—only a change of name. There could not be a worse insult offered to the veterans, as Mr. Mousey said, tho veterans asked for bread and were offered a stone. The Prime Minister drew a rod burring across tho debate by bringing veterans of the Indian Mutiny and Crimea. Sir, the Rome Government see ■to tbem. and they all get pensions, but tho much-lauded veteran volunteers arc offored only the same as the old ago pension—only altered the name. Tho Prime Minister said the cost of giving a pension to the New • Zealand veterans would cost .fiCOOO per annum. What if it cost .£20,000 pot year, are tho finances'so bad that the New Zealand Government cannot pay its just debt of honour due to those who mado J\icw Zealand as it is to-day, who laid down their lives on the call to arms? Tho gallant remnant ask for a small pittance to bo ( given them, free from all humiliating terms. Ono member in the House raid to tho Trime Minister, "What jbout the Dreidnjught l Cannot you ufford to give the veterans a pension now?" Members from both sides of the House spoko in favour of denling geieronsly wiih the veterans, but all in vain. Tho idea of bringing the South African soldiers into the debate was worse than ridiculous and only shows that at present no justice will be given to tho Maori war vet-erans-settler soldiers who thought no sacrifice too great on their pan, so that pcaco could be obtained.—l am, etc., w ii- t ',w , A CITIZEN. Wellington, October 27, 1911.