WAR PENSIONS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2531, 4 August 1915, Page 5

WAR PENSIONS

WHO MAY RECEIVE THEM? DEFINITION OF DEPENDENTS. The Right Hon. W. F. MASSEY (Chairman of the Secret Defence Committee) presented the report of the committee on suggested amendments to the War Pensions Bill. The amendments were introduced by Governor's Message, and the House forthwith resumed consideration of. the Bill in Committee. A list of amendments had already been before the House, and t'he House had 'referred) them to the Defence Committee. The Defence Committee returned them with the following additions,. defining "child" and "dependents." "Child" means a dependent under tho age of ; 16 years, leing a son, daughter, stepson, stepdaughter, or illegitimate child of a member of the Forces, or a child legally adopted by sucli member before he became a member of- the Forces. "Dependents" means — (a) The wife of a member of the Forces at the time of his death or disablement ; (b) A woman who becomes the wife of a member at any time before the expiry of twelvo months after tho date of his discharge, and who satisfies the board that at the date of the departure of the member from New Zealand there was a binding contract to marry subsisting between the member and such woman; (c) A woman: who becomes the wife of a member of the Forces at any time before the expiry of twelve months after the date of his discharge, and who satisfies the board— ■ (i) That she is the mother of a child born to the member beforo the date of her marriage; (ii) That such child was horn either before or withain nine months after the departure, of the member from New Zealand; and (iii) That the child wasliving at the date of her marriage to tho member. (d) The children of a member of the Forces, whether born before or after his death or disablement, and 1 includes the children of a marriage solemnised after the disablement of the member as provided in either paragraph (b) or paragraph (c) hereof, hut does not include the children of any other marriage solemnised after the disablement of the member or illegitimate children born to him after the expiry of ten months from the date of his departure from New Zealand ; and (e) Any other member of his family

who was in fact wholly or in part dependent upon his earnings at any time within the period of twelve months immediately preceding the dato upon which he became a member of,, the Forces.

"Binding Contract." There, was sonio discussion alout tlio term "binding contract" in paragraph (b) above. Sir. Herdman, who took charge of tho Bill for Mr. Allen, because the latter's voice had almost gone, said that the term "binding contract" had not its literal meaning in the clause, because there could bo no action for specific performance of any oontract to marry. There might bo an action for damages for breach of promise to marry, but under no contract could two people be compelled to marry. He would advise the House to leave the words in the clause, because they were meant as an intimation that the board ought not to he called upon to investigate all sorts of vague undertakings, promises t-o marry lightly given by soldiers on the eve of their departure. . Mr. G. W. Russell commented on the fact that the. Defence Committee had twice made amendments widening the provisions according to tho demands of the House, but each time tho report came down some fresh , requests were made. He pointed out that the capacity of the country to carry pensions was somewhat limited. Ho thought the provisions now proposed would meet every reasonable case. Dr. Tha-cker referred to the case of New Zealamlers who had enlisted in Kitchener's Army, and who intended to return to New Zealand after the war, in order to marry her. They would receive the English pension, and he asked if the Government here could supplement that pension. The Hon. A. L. Herdman said that there might be thousands of New Zealamlers enlisted outside New Zealand, and it would.be hardly fair for the Dominion to have to pay a pension for them. It would bo opening the door too wide.

Dr.. Thacker said that the man he had in mind was an employee of the New Zealand Shipping Company, and was' constantly travelling between New Zealand and England prior to the war. Mr. Herdman: If the pension ■ was widened like that it would open the door to any' New Zealanders serving in the French, Italian, or Russian Army. Ho went on to say that they would never get to an end with the Bill if fresh suggestions were made every time the Bill came before the House. Mr. T. M. Wilford supported the idea that New Zealanders serving with tho English Army should be put on the same footing with regard to pensions " for their future wives, if they married in New Zealand on their return. He moved that the word "binding" should be struck out of sub-Clause b. "A binding contract to marry," he held, was an absurd wording. 1 A division was taken on the amendment, and the word was retained by 32 votes to 25. It was not a party division. The amendments were added to the Bill, and the Bill was reported. The Bill Passed, On the motion for the third reading, Mr. L. M. ISITT (Christchurch North) said he was glad that the Bill had been made more liberal. He hastened to assure the framers of the Bill that it was not the considered opinion of any member of the House that they had not been as generous in their sympathies as they ought to have been. He was sure they had fixed the limits of pensions payable, not because they did not wish to give more, but because they did not deeni it prudent to increase the responsibility of the country when its finances were likely to be disorganised by war. But he would like every member of the Force to know that the House did not.consider 355. a week a full discharge of, the debt the country owed to men who were maimed in the country's service. That debit could not be reduced to payment in gold. Mr. P. C. WEBB (Grey) said he did not consider the pensions liberal enough. Tho Bill was read a third time on the voices..

NATIONAL GOVERNMENT. NO BUSINESS UNTIL QUESTION IS SETTLED. In moving the adjournment' of the House, . The Right Hon. W. F. MASSEY (Prime Minister) said he ivished to congratulate the House on having passed 6uch an important Bill so expeditiously. Ho intended to ask the House to adjourn until 2.30 p.m. on the following (lay, and the reason why-he moved the adjournment was that the Government did not intend to'ask Parliament to pass any important legislation until the National Cabinet question was settled one way or the other. He hoped to he able to make a statement to the House the next 'day. SIR JOSEPH "WARD (Leader of the Opposition) said lie hoped to be in a position to make a statement when the House met on .Wednesday. The House rose 'at 5 p.m.