WAR PENSIONERS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2293, 29 October 1914, Page 9

WAR PENSIONERS

RESIDENTIAL RESTRICTIONS. At the conference of the New Zealand Association of His Majesty's Veterans, held yesterday, tho secretary (Mr. S. Stidolph) brought up a matter which at once rivetted the attention ol all present, and ultimately led to strong words of protest. It concerned the case of a local veteran, • O'Brien, whohad wished for health' reasons to spend a month in Australia, but on making application to the Pensions Commissioner (Mr. G..E. Faclio) had been informed that he would loso his pension whilst out of the Dominion. It seemed an unnecessary restriction to place upon those in receipt of war pensions.- ' "I've got something to say' about this," said Colonel Stuart Newall, C.B. "William O'Brien, a man of worth, col-our-sergeant of' the 10th Regiment, who fought at Orakau, the only colour-ser-geant who w,as there, if I remember right. Afterwards he worked in tho Government workshops. He came up to my houßo and said that he wanted to get to Tasmania' for a time just for a change and to see his -native place— he belonged to Hobart. O'Brien said he had boen to the Commissioner, who had told him, as I did, that the pension was only potent as long as he' remained in New Zealand. Still; he thought that 1 could do something for him, though I know I couldn't, but I wrote to the Commissioner, and received the reply that the pension was only available during actual residence in New Zealand. I think it's a hardship. O'Brimr was a good soldier, aiid has always been a good hard-working man,.and being a native of Hobart bo wished to see the land of his birth once more. My heart was with him, and I would not be surprised if representations from this august assemblage might- produce somothing. It would moan an amendment to the Act."

"How many of you old chaps," continued 'the Colonel, "wish to go waddling about tho world at your ago? On the other hand, O'Brien is a strong, healthy man—one whom 'none- of Uβ would care to say nasty things to. I think that if tho Government ■ granted a concession at all, it might bo to the neighbouring Commonwealth. It is not the case with British soldiers (pensioners). If they live in New Zealand they get their pension the same as though they were in England. , .lVhy, there used to be paymasters in Now Zealand to attend to tho pensions. Colonel Hall-Oaine was one, If the British authorities can follow their men up wherever they may be, it does Beesn a hardship that our good men should be restricted in this way."

Colonel T. W. Porter, C.8.: "If a man (pensioner) is absent from New Zealand for ten years he gets nothinghe only draws his pension froni the date he returns to New Zealand. Though he has the medal, if he leaves the country for a month ho loses his pension for that time, which is altogether contrary, to British precedent. It is one of those simple things that needs redress. In my opinion, theso war pensions should be payable in any part of tho Empire. To restrict it in this way is a very unjust thing—why should ho have to stay within the four walls ? It was ono of the things that needed attention. There were hundreds of claims for medals still nudealt .with, and in reviewing these it is my intention of referring tho other matter to tho Government in order to remedy a wrong. It was' a great wrong and a groat injustice. There should be an amendment to the Act making Buch pensions payablo in any part of His Majesty's Empire." Colonel Nowall said that the committee set up to review the applications for war medals would be sitting shortly, and counselled taking no action until it was 'seen what came out of its recommendation respecting the residential restriction.