WAR PENSIONS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3177, 30 August 1917, Page 5

WAR PENSIONS

DEMAND FOR APPEAL BOARD

STATEMENT BY MINISTER

A short but lively discussion of tho Pensions Board occurred in the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon, It wag alleged by several members that tho board, fair and just as its decisions might bo gonerally, was not infallible, and they urged, therefore, that a Pensions Appeal Board should bo set up. Somo one or two members said , that tho members of tho board were becoming callous in dealing with applicants. Sir James Allen gave a. very omphatio refutation to tho suggestion that tho War Pensions Board had become calloue. Ho made tho statement deliberately that as tho days went by tho board had bcconio moro and moro liberal. Hun. dreds of oases had been reconsidered and more liberal ponsions giveu to tho applicants. The fact was that they worn absolutely straining tho law by granting ponsions which perhaps ought rot to bo granted, so that tho charge of callousness could not bo sustained against members of the board. Eoforenco had been mado to the Commissioner. He did not know whether hono'urablo aiombers knew Mr. Itohc

Mr. Lee: A most painstaking officer. Sir Jamca Allen: Ho is a great deal moro than a painstaking officer. I have never met a man with cloopor sympathies than Mr. Facho, and it Jβ very largely owing to his care and consideration in dealing with applicants that tho administration of tho Act has been so liberal. He added that ho had very carefully considered this question of appointing an Appoal Board, and ho ventured to eay that if an appeal was set up tho administration of tho Act could not bo so generous as it was now. Tho Pensions Board had not stuck closely to tho letter of the law, but an Appeal Board would have to stick rigidly to tho Act. Ho also wished to say that if a schedule of rates for particular industries wero included in tho Bill on the eo.tlo of tho English Act the pensioners HI this country would havo to suffer. Mr. Lee: We don't ask for a schedule. An honourable member: But the Second Divisiou havo. Sir .Tames Allen said that Tinder the present arrangoment a higher percentage was allowed for injuries than would be allowed imder ,1 sohedule. However, ho had an open mind on tho matter, and tho House would have an opportunity of sayinff'whether a schedule should bo put in. Hβ gavo this opinion tp tho Houso in order that mombers might consider the question. One of tho clauses to bo inserted in tho Bill would bo a clear statement that a man would not have his pension reduced because of any money ho might earn. (Heai - , hear.) Every man must bo enoouraged to work, and every man must bo given a certain assurance that he would not bo penalised in loss of his pension by earning money for himself.