WAR PENSIONS.

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2788, 5 June 1916, Page 8

WAR PENSIONS.

_ Sir,—Although the amending Act relative to war pensions is a vast improvement on the original measuru, 11. xeeniis to lack one or two important provisions, which I will briefly point out. ' A ease has been brought under.my notice where; a young Jton-cominissioned officer who fell in action at. Galiipoli last August left money and property aggregating something about .£250.. The surviving.parent (the father, of the .soldier, the mother 'being deceased) was totally unaware of liis son's financial position, and upon inquiry from' the authorities found that not a, single penny of this amount had been left to the one who had borne long years of struggle to prepare hjs; children for. the battle of life. Tho whole of' the abovementioned amount was left to brothers and sisters (all of whom are minors). Now, Sir, I contend that the Act should be made elastic enough to step in and revoko any unfairness of this description, for doubtless there are many other cases similar to "tho one mentioned. Of course, the parent above referred to has applied to the Pensions Board for compensation, and considering that the soldied died worth a tidy little sum, it will be interesting to see how the board deals with such a case as this. Ido not write with a full knowledge of the Bill" bow before the House, but I do know that your influential journal lias .clamoured for the just rights of those who require assistance through the loss of relatives in the. war. In tho case under notice the father does not , own any., property, and lias to maintain a family of seven -on an income of .£l2O a year.—l am, etc., JUSTICE.