MILITARY PENSIONS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3081, 11 May 1917, Page 6

MILITARY PENSIONS

ADVANCES FOR WIDOWS

WELLINGTON REQUESTS

The medical examination of recruits and the rights of dependants were among the matters considered at a mooting of the Wellington War Relief

Association yesterday afternoon. A letter was read from the Otago Patriotic Association asking for the support of the Wellington body in some suggestions that had been-placed before "the Minister of Defence and the Advisory Board. The Otago body urged that the Government should accept increased responsibility in the cases of men who had been accepted as fit, and then discharged as unfit after a period of training in the military camps. It suggested also that the limit of incoirti for a widowed mother .without debarring her from receiving separation allowance should be raised from 7s. to 10s. a week. Experience had satisfied the Otago Relief< Committee that the allotment of 4s. a day from the soldier's pay,, insisted \ipon by tho patriotic associations when a claim fori assistance was too largo, and did not leave enough for the soldier's own needs. Tho high allotment was rendered necessary by, the low rate of separation allowance and children's allowance.

The chairman (Mr. L. 0. H: Tripp) said that tho attitude of the Defence Department towards men who had broken down in camp constituted a real grievance. If the Department accepted a man for service, it ought to accept responsibility in the event of his proving unsound • under the stress of training. If a recruit told the truth about himself when he was questioned by the doctors, he ought to be protected. It was not fair to cast him adrift in a weakened condition.

Mr. J. Lewis said that men who were turned nut of camp under such conditions often came to the association for assistance.

Mr. Hutcheson : "I know of regular graveyard deserters who have oeen sent, into camp'with a slap on the hack to let the training break them up." With regard to the payment of separation allowance, the chairman read a letter from the Minister of Defence stating that the extension of the income limit to 10s. would be going too far. A widowed mother who had an income r of 7s. per week, phis the separation allowance of 7s. a week, and plus an allotment from her son's pay would be fairly well provided for.

Mr. Hutcheson said it ought to ho clear that the widow would need moro money in the absence of her son than when he was with her. She would he dependent upon bor own resources, and would not have the son to call upon in case of an emergency.

The board decided to give its supnort to the Otago Board's suggestions. The question of the soldier's allotment was referred to the Advisory Board for consideration.

Tho chairman moved: "That immedi T atoly a. man with dependants goes into camp the Government should advance against the man's pay some money to the dependants to enable them to live until tho allotment and other allowance are paid." He said that under present arrangements the dependants of a soldiers often received no money for four or fivo weeks after the man entered camp, and they had to appeal for assistance or suffer privation. The motion was supported by several members, and carried.

The chairman also 7noved: "That the Pensions Board should have power to grant a full pension to soldiers or their dependants in proper cases even if the injuries or disabilities from which the soldiers are suffering have, in the opinion of the Ponsions Board, been caused partly by some old trouble from .whjch the soldier may have suffered before he went into camrr, and that a copy of this, resolution be forwards! to the Minister of Defence and tho Advisory Board." He said that the Government ought to bo prepared to take the responsibility for men who | had been accepted for service. He had heard of the case of a man who had served in the Forces at the front for two years, and had then been refused the full pension because the floe-1 tors said that hi" present disability | was the outcome of an old weakness. " The motion was carried.