SOLDIERS' RETROSPECTIVE ALLOWANCES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 209, 29 May 1919, Page 5

SOLDIERS' RETROSPECTIVE ALLOWANCES

. . 9 ; STATEMENT BT SIR JAMES ALLIIiV. By Telegraph—Press Association. Christchurch, May 28. Sir James Allen attended the Returned Soldiers' Conference this afternoon, and the debate on political action was temporarily suspended to receive him. The matter of retrospective allowances was gone' into with him and the association's views fully explained;

Sir James Allen said with resard to ietrospective allowances that there had been a difficulty owing to the imperfect records. He recognised the unfairness of paying only from the date of embarkation, and his estimate was based on the date on going into camp. He therefore proposed to pay in Juno what had already been agreed, and if the conference could suggest p, way out he would pay from the date of attestation, /but this would .be a 'second, payment.. On the • more diifi j cult question of children's allowances he was faced with the.fact that somo men with as mauy as nine children had enlisted. In some of these cases pensions were being paid, although some of the elder children might not be receiving a pension. The conference could discuss the matter o.nd Cabinet would give it full consideration. These men were not'compelled to enlist, and when he knew of the heavy responsibility involved he stopped them; As for those who had gone, an increased allowance to children was paid immediately it was authorised, and separation allowances hail been paid for men with eight and nine children. Ko far, however, lie did not think retrospective allowances to children were justifiable.

, Speaking of repatriation, Sir James Allen said it was no use putting men into temporary billets. 'He line; ueen anxious to have r. board of one Minister, but tho present board had dona much better than was expected. Tho Act was not what was wanted, but it could not be altered before next session, and then it would probably be too late. Therefore, everybody should try to make the best of what they had. With certain amendments the present machinery would fulfil most of the, requirements, lie wished to thank thg 'boards for their work. "I understand you havo been discussing whether you are to become a political organisation or not," Sir James Allen added. "I am not going to pass any opinion about that, but in the early stages of tho war I oxpressed a candid opinion, and I say it now, that the more you keep out of politics the better."