WAR PENSIONS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2626, 23 November 1915, Page 6

WAR PENSIONS

SHOULD PARLIAMENT BE

SUMMONED

AN APPEAL TO MEMBERS

A circular letter has been addressed to every member of Parliament by Mr. 11- Fletcher, member for Wellington Central, asking them to join in petitioning the Prime Minister to summon Parliament for tho purpose of amending the War Pensions Act. '

Following is the text, of Mr. Fletcher's letter:—

"lii approaching you on the very serious question of the War Pensions Act and its operations since coming into force, I do so with tho full sense of the responsibility which rests on you and n;e as representatives of the people. It must bo conceded that numerous cases liavo been rejected by the Pensions Board which have caused great hardship and injustice to the dependents of those who have given their lives to tho Empire's cause, and the time has arrived when the Act should be amended in the direction of a fuller and moro humane recognition of tho great sacrifices that have' been mado by the gallant sons of New Zealand.

; "I do not 'wish to impute any harshness to tho members of the board, who, I believe, arc acting coitscientiously within the limitation of the Act. J. sav frankly that the spirit and intention of tho Legislature are not being given effect to. The wish of every member of the New Zealand Parliament in passing the War Pensions Act was to see that the dependents ivere adequately provided for, and that 110 false economy was to operate in the administration of tho Act. "Unfortunately numerous cases of cheeseparing, limitation, and reduction of pensions have occurred, and I say in 'Immunity's sake it is due to each and every member of Parliament to rectify' tho matter at once. An amendment of the Act is urgently necessary,. whereby our wishes and the wisheß of the peoplo of New Zealand should be made mandatory and iiot permissive, so that on the establishment of a title 01 claim for dependency, the pension should be paid.over forthwith. : "I have had numerous cases of hardship brought before me, no doubt you have had a similar experience, and I confidently approach you with a view of petitioning the Bight Hon. the Prime Minister to immediately call Parliament together for the purpose of amending the Act in such a manner that all willing to serve their King and country, but who have been held back from enlisting owing to the duty they owo their wives, families, and dependents, may receive a definite assurance that those whom they- may leave behind will receive from the State the full meed of recognition that tlieir. unselfish sacrifice unquestionably entitles'them to expect. "This is not a party appeal—l have consulted none of the 'Ministry in the matter. We lihow that even their hands are tied hy the legal observances of the Act as it stands, and it is for each and every one of us members to approach the Ministry ill the direction indicated. I feel "that the members of the Cabinet ara desirous of doing justico in this matter to our soldiers and flopendents, aiid tliat the immediate summoning of Parliament will assist'them in the solution of the difficulties which aro apparent to all. . "I shall be glad, therefore, if you wiTT join "with 1110 and other members in requesting the R-idit Hon. the Prime' Minister to held a short- session of Parliament to amend tho Act."