PENSIONS BY RIGHT

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2649, 21 December 1915, Page 3

PENSIONS BY RIGHT

—i- . THAT DEPUTATION. , SOME ADVERSE COMMENTS Some reference to 1 -war pensions and Hie recent deputation to the Prime Minister was made at the meeting of / the Wellington Central Chamber of " Commerce yesterday. Mr. 0. M. Luke reported what had occurred at the deputation. •' Mr. L. A. Edwards said that the whole question at issue, and the question which' Mr. Massey burked, was whether dependents should have pen-. sions without regard to their means. He instanced his own case. If he went to the war,. he would have no assurance as to what his wife's position might be' ■ if he did not return. Probably the Pensions Board would 6ay that because his wife had inherited his interest in' the business of his company, she had resources, and 1 would give her a pension of, say, £35 oi £40 a year. But his business was perishable, and who was to say that it would .be earning profits, or that it, would even be in existence when financial stress came to this country, This stress was bound to come, . because, the war would have to be paid . for. If the business failed, her income would be cut off,' and she would be in a / much worse position than the wife of a man who was wholly ; without resources. : What-the deputation asked.';.for was . "pensions', as of'.right, to''dependents," . : and this, was the point on . which they. could! not' get a straight : answer from-, ■ Mr. Massey. The'.Prime Minister did not ,keep to the subject-matter in the circular of the War League, but devoted . a good deal of attention to defending the /. admjnistration of; the Act, and to the ■possible cost of summoning Parliament together; The War League told him that they had nothing to say about the administration: of the Act. Their criti- . cism was . directed against;'the. Act .it-,, self.. Mr. Massey had occupied his time' .. in defending himself against newspaper criticism about which the deputation knew nothing, and with which they were '. not in sympathy. Mr. 'Ltuke agreed that'just as disabled men were given pensions without regard to their, means, so, much more, should ' ; dependents receive pensions without deduction because of their means. . ';. Mr. H. G Hill said that now Tas the time to compel '-the powers that ~ be" to come down with a bqtter pensions. • ' scheme;' 'He had travelled throughout . New Zealand, and he was satisfied that ■' the people of- the country were absolute- • '-ly, determined that and their, dependents would be properly cared for. He thought the Chamber should co- ;; operate with the , various societies, : leagues', and patriotic organisations in- \ terested in the question in. puffing the matter tie Government. They -should prepare a:.comprehensive state- . .ment on the 'piibject,' 'and forward it tfl the Prime Minister. ' . . : ... Mr. Edwards: He won't reaid it. Ha llidn't read the one . from ■ the' War ". .League, _ He-said.that he hadn't. \ .! Mr. Hill said that the feeling throughout the country-was that . .the Govern'men were determined to use'the funds • ' of the Patriotic 'Societies for. purposes which 6liould. be' provided for by taxation. Against this he' would protest .always. Mr.'Hill moved: a resolution to . give effect to the proposal he nfffmade. Mr. Edwards seconded the -motion . which was'agreed ' . '. v .Since the outbreak of .the war a very large, number of men who had previously. been employed in the New Zealand and 'Australian coal mines have left for tfco fighting line. The effect of the deple- \ tion in the ranks of the miners, truckers, etc., is now -beginning-to be felt, both in New Zealand and Australia , (says an ' exchange), and one Dunedin -. firm at least'.is,a few hundred tons lie:ihind. iii the fulfilment of it? orders, not Ibeing able to obtain sufficient men. to . work its mine full handed. Expert opinion is that the position will become accentuated -as the war goes on, and . that by next- winter-there is a probability that there will be a genuine shortage of coal. So far.as the question of industrial unrest among the miners is concerned, it does not appear that there is a desire on the part of the governing'brganisations to create trouble in this-direction, and any talk of impending strikes. appears to be confined solely to'the utterances of the "professional whisperers." ' The "special feature'' advertisement on the amusement page of this .issue''is one of interest to. those who desire to' effect a saving of money during* these strenuous times. ■ Mr. Herb. Price advertises the Well-known brand -.of -J;B.S. clothing,, a large shipment of which, has. just come to hand. 'Every" suit is described as a '• model of perfection, and a correct fit is said to -be assured with suits having the / J.B.S. label. . Mi;. 'Price has a very fine stook of men's wearing apparel, and a yisit. to l this well-known shop will he • well repaid; ; .