WAR PENSIONS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 212, 2 June 1920, Page 8

WAR PENSIONS

AN INADEQUATE SCALE RECOMMENDATION FOR APPEAL BOARD Pension matters t . were discussed at length at last night's session of tho New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association Conference. Jn regard to a remit from Wellington, that in view of the great discontent existing among returned soldiers as to their treatment at the hands of tho War Pensions Board, the association strongly urges tho right of an advocate to appear for the soldier whon his case is being heard by tho War Pensions Board, and so rectify somo of. the frivolous pensions granted to men suffering from war disabilitv, the Pensions Committee recommended that the word "inadequate' be substituted for "frivolous," and that the principle contained in the remit bo adopted. Mr. J. D. Harper (Wellington), a member of the Pensions Board, gavo a flat denial to the suggestion that there was great discontent existing among returned soldiers. He had been all over tho country practically, and knew of no such discontent. With respect to the amounts of the pensions ■ granted, Mr. Harper said, that if inadequate pensions were awarded, Ihe legislation, and not the board, was responsible. The board had to work according' to the schedule fixed Mr.'W 7 . Perry (Wellington) held that applicants should havo the right of an advocate, becauso unless a man was able to state hia case clearly he might not bo ablo to get so much as another man who *'pnt up a good •stunt.'" Mr. W. E. Leadlcv (Christehureh) contended'that in Mr. Harper returned soldiers already had a good advocate. Mr. Harper said that whenever fresh ovidence was tendereS io him that a pension was inadequate, he was always prepared to have a case reopened. Plib board had to be guided by medical testimony in all cases, but good service miuht be performed by an advocaU J" pointing out economic disabilities. At present pensions were fixed by statute, and were based on a scale ot specific miuries. .„ „. , Mr. A. B. Sievwright (Wellington) supported the remit, and saul that the euo rctaries of returned soldiers' associations were the proper people to act in the capacity of advocates. Tho remit was carried, the suggestion regarding discontent having first been deleted. ~ . , , In connection with a remit from Auckland suggesting the amendment of the present pension scale and the constitution of a war pensions appeal board, the committee recommended that the schedule for specific injuries pf the Act and tho second and third schedules be regraded by the addition of plus percentages tip to 175 per centum (that is, £S 10s. per week), and the total percentage bo the minimum pension for total permanent disablement, supplementary pensions and attendants' pension to be- oyer and above such rate. The commute© also suggested that the dependants pension be assessed at present rates, and that tho third schedule of the Act be re,gradod on account of certain anomalies 'existing therein. Mr. B. J. F. Aldnch (Wellington) thought the Government should appoint a commission to give advice regarding the incidence of pensions, having regard to tho cost of living. The recommendation was adopted after having been amended in the direction ot asking dependants' pensions to bo assessed pro rata. . During the-course, of discussion it wao suggested that a . member of the association should be allowed to appear at the Bar of the House to put the, views ot tho Returned Soldiers' Association regarding pension^before members ot Parliament. . „._ : Mr T E. Y. Pcddon, M.P., convener of the Pay, Pensions, and Allowances Committee,' looked upon the suggestion as a reflection on returned soldier members of the House. ' Tho best way the association could attain its end would bo to ask the Minister of Dcfence-who was himself a returned soldier and was very favourably disposed towards the nssocin-tion-if he wa* prepared to bring down a new Pensions Bill. Should the Minister agree, then the association could appear before a committee of the House and give evidence. • The conference carried a remit trom Auckland proposing the constitution of a war pensions appeal board, consisting of three members, one to be a Stipendiary Magistrate, who shall be chairman, and two registered medical practitioners, one to be nominated by tho N.Z.It.S.A. A remit from Hawera was passed, providing that where a discharged soldier dies as a result of disability incurred on service, and leaves a widow, such widow shall be entitled to a pension for herself and any children of .the marriage, irrespective of whether tho soldier was engaged or married to such person prior to enlistment. A further remit adopted was one from Taihape. that all pension payable to the widowed mother or other dependants ot a deceased soldier should be made payable from tho date of the soldier's death, or the date of the stoppage of his allotment, and not from the date of application only. . ■