WAR PENSIONS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2620, 16 November 1915, Page 9

WAR PENSIONS

i ♦ ' THE BURNING QUESTIONS HOW THE BOARD WORKS A statement on those phases of war pensions administration whicfh have attracted some public attention lately was made by tire Hon. A. M. Myers (Minister iu Charge of Pensions) yesterday. "Some statements have been made to fcho effect that pensions should be granted regardless of any consideration," said Mr. Myers. "The fundamental principles of the Act, as decided by Parliament, are, as far as the soldier is concerned, that his pension is awarded with duo regard to the extent of his. disablement, which must have arisen out- of his employment as a soldier; and, as far as the .cjependant of any soldier is concerned, that his or her circumstances must be taken into account, so that it may be decided to what extent assistance from tho State shall bo rendered. A maximum is- provided, so that the people most in need of assistance get tho full grant, while the more fortunate individual who has god 'health, and lias private means, gets something less. Experience has already shown that there are both the people who do not want a pension- and also' those who do not require it. No Disabled Soldier Refused. "As far as the returned soldier is concerned,, he is asked to fill in a form on a single sheet containing practically only two leading questions, namely, to what extent he is disabled; and, if requiring a personal attendant, has he means to pay such attendant? Property or incomo has no bearing whatever on his claim for the pension except that the- simple question 'What are your average earnings?' is asked to help in determining the extent 1 of his disability. No soldier disabled by wounds has beau refus'ed a pension. Pensions, however, have been refused in cases where soldiers have been stricken by illness, " and who, by, the time they have returned to the Dominion, have completely recovered. In somo cases pensions have been refused, and the applicant has immediately enlisted for the next Reinforcements.

The Method of Application. "With regard to the method of making application: The applicant for a' war pension applies to the local registrar, who has the claim filled in in his private room, and ho is not required to be seen again, but may in some cases be written to for further information. No dependent applicant has been called before the boasd for cross-examination. In several cases of returned soldiers the applicant has been asked to appear before the board because lie happened io be in Wellington, but not for any purposes of cross-examination as to his private affairs. Common Errors.

"Complaints have been made that wounded soldiers do not get t'he full benefit of the scale provided, and that their circumstances and those of their relatives affect the claim.' In no case, does the applicant's circumstances, or anyone elso's, have any bearing whatever on his claim, and he gets the full benefit of the scale to the extent of his disablement. Several soldiers who have lost an eye have been awarded a pension of £1 a week. Another soldier with an amputated leg has 30s. a week, but there are many cases whe.ro soldiers who have been ill, and have since recovered,' have not been considered as cases for the pension'roll. . "A oommon error made is that any person who has been receiving an allotment of pay from a deceased soldier is entitled to. a, pension. The Act does not so provide'; in.fact, it-is-laid down that the dependent applicant must have been assisted during the twelve months preceding the date of the soldier's enlistment, exiept in the case'of parents well up in years who have a claim outl- - of dependency.

"The' greatest exception seems to be taken to requiring a widow of a deceased soldier to stato her. affairs. By a recent amendment of tho Australian Act, the wife and children there are granted pensions regardless of income or property.

"While it is tlie position in New Zealand that- the circumstances of a wifo havo. to be taken into account, tho cases are rare where the amount granted is below theunaximum provided in Australia, which ranges from £52 for the wifo of a privato to £156 for tlie wife of a general, ss. a week less in each case than the maximum rates payable ill New Zealand.

"Statements have been made regarding the English provisions, which aro not borne out by the official information in tho hands of the Department. It is stated that pensions in England are granted regardless of the private means of the applicant. ""'This is not so. The relating to dependants' pen- 1 sions provide that each case shall be considered on its merits'; while in regard to the disabled soldier it is provided that, if he is not totally disabled, he shall be granted such a pension as will,, with the wages he may be deemed capable of earning, amount to 255. a week. The' Canadian regulations, which provide dependants' pensions for widows and children and widowed mothers only; set out that the pension may be withheld or discontinued should the applicant bo, or subsequently become, weaifhy." j