PENSIONS BY RIGHT

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2701, 22 February 1916, Page 6

PENSIONS BY RIGHT

RECRUITING COMMITTEE'S , REQUEST PREMIER APPROACHED The Wellington District Recruiting Committee has written to the Prime Minister in the following terms:— "Dear Sir, —I have the honour to respectfully communicate the following ■ resolution that was passed nt a mooting of No. 5 group, Wellington Mili- : tary District Rccruiting Organisation, on February 14, for the consideration of yourself aijd the National Cabinet: " 'That tliis meeting make representations to the Prime Minister and the National Cabinet to clear up the uncertainty as to the mattor of pensions at present exercising the minds of many men who are. hesitating to enlist in the New Zealand :Expeditionary Forces, by an absolute declaration that the pensions _ to the dependents of the fallen' will be theirs by right.' "The committee are of opinion tliat if this declaration is made at the present juncture it will result in largo 'numbers of men coming forward who are daily representing their .villingness to make material sacrifices if they are assured that in the event of death those who would be left behind would receive a pension automatically. I shall be glad if you can enable an answer to be given to this representation at tho earliest opportunity in order that the organisation _ can avail themselves of the declaration in their canmaign for recruiting, which, will commence almost immediately—Yours faithfully (Sgd.), John P. Luke, Mayor." To the above the Hon. W. F. Massey has replied that the matter will be submitted to Cabinet for consideration, and a communication will follow. On this subject Captain Barclay, in charge of. the Town Hall Recruiting Office, states tliat a pension by right must- be. granted before they ran expect to get the men they want! What was the position nt present ? 3Xon c<inie into the office almost every day and said, in effect: "We.would like to register, but would you please answer one question—lf we are killed, will our widows get our pension by right!" To Mich a question Captain Barclay said he had to reply in the negative, whereupon those men failed to register, and, in his humble opinion, thoy were quito right. At Homo there was never any doubt about the pension by tight, au'd there should not bo in New Zealand "