MAORI WAR MEDAL

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 18, 16 October 1920, Page 8

MAORI WAR MEDAL

"THE CLAIMS OF THE OLD SOLDIERS MR. MASSEY PROMISES FURTHER INQUIRE • i 1 The old question of the issue of tho Maori war medal, with its accompanying pension, was before tho Houso of Representatives again yesterday. The Defenco Committee had considered "a petition praying that tho medal should be granted to men who had served in tho Maori wars but had not actually been under fire, and reported recommending tho petition for the favourablo consideration of the Government Many members' of the House took tho opportunity to urge again that some concession should bo made to veterans who were unable to prove that they had been undef fire, though they had worn the uniform and performed all tho service required of them- In troublous yeans; One suggestion made during tho debate was that all tho vetorans should be givon a rilv ,bon, which thoy could wear on official occasions. The Minister of Defence (Sir Heaton Rhodes) stated tjiat he had been asked recently to approvo of tho issue of a badge to veterans of the Maori war, tho South African war, and other wars in .which New Zealanders had been engaged. But objection had been raised by tho Returned Soldiers' 'Association, which stated that any veteran wag ontitled to enter that organisation and wear its badge. Several members pointed out that the veterans of tho Maori war wore not technically "returned soldiers," sinoo they had not fought overseas. They could not join the R.S.A. .</ The Minister: I should like to see one veterans' association and ono badge for. all returned soldiers.

Tho Prime Minister, speaking after the claims of the old soldiers had been pressed by other members, said that on at least four occasions within his recollection commissions .had been appointed to visit various parts of New Zealand and make an effort to clear up all the claims for tho Maori war medal. All the men who had served in that war and' had been under firo had'been invited to present their claims. But it appeared that some claims' had not been presented; other claims, had not been proved, and. then there was tho demand that tho medal should be ;grauted to men Who had '. not been under fire at all. The holders of -tho medal were receiving. now pension at the rate of JM9 n year each, the amount having been increased during tho war on account of the cosr of living,' and it was obvious enough that the men who wero asking for tho medal were in many cases anxious to get tho pension. Tho cost of granting tho medal all tho' old men who. wero asking for it would bo very considerable. He believed the number of Maori war veterans still alivo 2-.in into many hundreds. If tho Government was 'satisfied that all the claims were just there might bo iio hesitation, but some of the claims were not just and clear proof was not easy to obtain.

Mr. Mnssey added lliafc lie was quite willing: to recommend tho Government to have the whole question looked into again, and to have something done if possible towards satisfying tho claims of tho veterans. This would ■ apply to hundreds of Maoris as well as to pakeha soldiers. Eo wished to know how many of the vetorans* there were, and if the difficulties in the way of meeting their claims were insuperable. LOCAL BODIES'" ACCOUNTS THE POOLING ARRANGEMENT. Tho provision made Hi the new Counties Bill for local bodies to pool separate accounts and so save Hie interest is so much appreciated that a desire has arisen on the part of local authorities which do not como under the measure for a similar provision to apply to them. Mr. J. Horn (Wnkatipu) asked the Prime Minister yesterday afternoon if this could not be done. Mr. Maesey said that bo could not aiiswor the .'question at present. There had been a consolidating Municipal Corporations Bill before the House not very long ago. He was not certain whether an amendment in tho desired direction i could be inserted by the Legislative Council or not. Ho was afraid not, since it weuld be a matter involving finance. He would have the matter looked into, and if possible a Vico-Rcgal message might be brought down Intel making tho desired alteration. "PRACTICALLTWORTHLESS" MR. MASSEY WITHDRAWS A RETURN. A return showing tho war service of members of the New Zealand Parliament olid of the sons and brothers of members of Parliament was presented to the House of Representatives on Thursday by tho Prime Minister. Yesterday Mr. Massey asked leave to withdraw the return. Ho said ho had discovered that it was eo full of 'inaccuracies as to be practically worthless. Ho proposed to refer tho return to tho Defence Department for correction. Mr. W. T. Jennings (Waitomo) asked who had been responsible for tho mistakes. He recalled the fact that during the war maiiy men who .wero' serving in France woro posted in New Zealand as shirkers and defaulters. Why did the Dofenco Department make those mistakes ?

Mr. Massey replied that ho could not answor the question. The return had been handed to him and ho had laid it before tho Hou. L e. Ho.had received so many complaints since then that ho must ask leave to withdraw it. Tho return should not bo allowed to go on record in its present form. M>r. J. P. Luko (Wellington 'North) suggested that members of tho House might bo to blamo for some of tho inaccuracies. Tho Dlefenco Department had asked each member for information to be included in tho return, nral ho •bad to confess that lie had overlooked tho matter and failed to send the in- • formation. Other members might have failed in the same way. Tho Houee last nicht put the Statutes Compilation and Law Drafling Bill through its final stagos, and passed it. The measure makes tho law draftsman and his assistants offioeria of Parliament.