WAR PENSIONS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 26, 25 October 1919, Page 11

WAR PENSIONS

V DISCUSSED R-S.A. APPEAL BOAKD WAITED l'urther consideration was given by JJ IO cuim.-i'uuci! ui the .vZ.K.h.A. ou 'llni:S» day to llw report of the Pensions Comjimtce, wnicli was submitted to tho diVegiili's camel' in 1 his week. it was decided tuat tlic iinding of the pruVlOUti v.Ollll'lX'UUß ut Chrjitchurch snould be reminded, and to recommend Unit till! sclicdulu of pensions for specific injuries of the tVar i'oitsions Act, li) 17, anil tlie second schcdiilo thereto Ixi rcKi'iided by tlic addition of plus porcetifiiges up to 150 per cunt. (Mutt is <fc) per week), the total percentage to bo thtf minimum pension for total permanent d.rtibloment. It was also resolved that supplementary pensions and attendants allowance shoa.d bo over and above tho rate mentioned, and that the dependants' pensions should bo assessed at present rates. 11 r. 32. Vf. Iniler (Auckland) moved thai a Pensions Appeal 80-.ud be sot up to hear and determine any appeals from the decisions of the Pensions Board. It was suggested by 11 r. Indc-r that the beard should consist of three members, one to be a Stipendiary Magistrate, who should be chairman, nml two reg'stercd medical practitioners, one to bo appointed 'by the Minister and ono to bo nominated by iho N./,.U.5.A., such members to hold offie? for the term of three years,, In connection with this matter the Tensions Committee reported that it was of the opinion that the principle contained in the remit should be confirmed, but found that tliero vn.s evidence _to show that the number of cases appealing to such boards wou'd be comparatively small, mid the committee _ doubted whether the expense involved in setting np such appeal boards would bo commensuralo with the advantages gained, by tho pensioners, in seconding Mr. Indcr's motion, Mr. K. P. Andrews (Auckland) enid ho regretted that the committee had reported in such a manner on the establishment of the appeal board. An appeal board was <lesir;ible, for once a mail had been "turned down" by a doctor for a pension he had no redress.

Mr. T. I.ong (Auckland) also supported the motion. He said ho knew of a caso where a man tying seriously ill had had his pension reduced. .Mr. D Colquhoun (Diinedin) fa : d ho was quite satisfied that there would bo a lmm'ber of appeals to justify tho Betting up of an appeal board. Mr. W. 13. Lcadley (Christchurch) said that, in his opinion, the, great majority of soldiers were receiving a fair deal, but there ivero rases in which he admitted appeals should bo made, After further discussion tho motion was carried.

Supreme Court Action Suggested. In dealing with this case of a wife who had been refused ft pension on account of hor husband, who had been disabled, Mr. A. B. Sievwright (Wellington) moved: "That tho claim re spccitio case bo submitted to legal opinion, with a view to taking a test case action in the Supreme Court to enforce payment of a pension." Tho references in suppert of th 6 enso were War Pensions Amendment Act, 1016, sections 9—15 (1) {income not considered with regard to granting pensions); War Pensions Act, 1015, section 5 (3) (rates of pension may lie reduced at discretion of Pensions Uoaixl); and tlmt tho Pensions Board were not paying any pensions whatever. In tho particular oaso the wife was not receiving any pension, although it was contended that sho was entitled to do bo by tho Act Tho Auckland Association, said Mr.. Sievwright, was going to take the action if, • conference refused.

Mr. E. F. Andrews (Auckland) seconded tho motion, nnd said that his association, having lvnd a legal opinion, had decided in take a Supremo Court action, but -would liko the approval of conference, It was a national ciwestion. Mr. Andrews said he was satisfied that there were thousands of wives «f disabled soldiers who were not receiving pensions and it was desired that the New Zealand ,4iSßt>eint>on slipifrl tnke the matter up oil behalf of these people. The motion was curried. After the remainder of the Pension Committee's report hatMtoen rosswl, a motion wns carried unanimous expressin',' confidence in Mr. .T. D, Harper os tl»< association's representative on the Tensions Board.