The Dominion. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1915. WAR PENSIONS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2637, 7 December 1915, Page 4

The Dominion. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1915. WAR PENSIONS

It is, of course, very pleasing to learn on the authority of the Prime Minister that "the Government are lully in sympathy with the soldiers" in thei matter of war pensions,, and will "do their best to meet the "difficulties and do justice to the men and their people," but the general tenour of Mr. Massey's reply to the war pensions deputation yesterday can hardly bo regarded as encouraging. He hinted at possible improvements which will be welcome, but the outstanding feature of his remarks as reported seems to be that the Government are reluctant to take any step which may add to the cost of the existing war pension scheme. This is all very well {rem one pojiit ot view, but it is very iil indeed Jrom

another. No one wishes to drive I tho Government into extravagance,'l but practically everyone wants the I pension scheme placed on such a ) footing that the dependents of men who enlist will be assured of a- pension by right. It has not been suggested, so far as we are aware—at least not from any authoritative quarter—that the rate of pension provided by tho Act should be increased; but what is generally advocated is that dependents, whether they bo wife, mother, stepmother, or anyone else qualified under the provisions of • the Act, 1 so long as they can prove . that they ' come within the definition of dependents, should be able to claim, the pension by right. What the Government cannot afford to-ignore is the fact that if recruiting is to be maintained under the voluntary-system the men who are expected to enlist-must be given an assurance that those who have been depending on them fox support will be adequately provided for. It is true, as stated by Mr. Mjissey, that the New Zealand war pension scheme is based on a more liberal scale than that of any other part of the British Empire, and the Government are entitled to ciedit for this; but the questions at issue are not disposed of by the mere assertion of. this fact. What has to be shown is that the pensions as provided and the conditions attached thereto are respectively sufficient and The opinion is very generally and justly held that, | though the maximum pensions prescribed are reasonable, the conditions governing them are not satisfactory, because the right to a pension is denied in cases where a man by his thrift "and industry has been able to make some small provision for his family. The pension in such cases may be reduced' as the Pensions Board may determine. Thrift is thus penalised, and the enlistment of the thrifty discouraged. AVhy should a man who has saved a fcv hundred pounds or made sacrifices, -to accumulate a little property be placed in a worse position than the man who has never troubled to save anything 1 The position is as unsound as it is unjust, and' should be remedied as soon as Parliament meets. It is to be regretted that the Prime_ Minister failed, to make any definite announcement as to the Government's intentions. Expressions of sympathy are all very well in their way, and promises to see justice done are not to b? despised, but the Government now have had ample time to consider the piatter, and should have been in a position _to state their intentions clearly and definitely instead of leaving the public still in doubt.