SOLDIERS’ PENSIONS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 310, 24 September 1921, Page 8

SOLDIERS’ PENSIONS

NECESSITY FOR AN INCREASE

POSITION OF WIDOWS AND CHILDREN. The necessity for increasing pensions granted to disabled soldiers and the dependants of those who lost their lives in the Great War was emphasised by several speakers at a meeting called by tho Returned Soldiers’ Association, and held at the Masonic Hall last evening. Mr. W. Perry presided, and about fifty attended. Tho chairman said that the question of soldiers’ pensions had been one of tho foremost since the inception of the Returned Soldiers’ Association, and what was required was the good-will of the public. The Returneel Soldiers’ Association wished to safeguard the soldiers who fought in the war and were disabled; also tho dependants of those who lost their lives. The first pensions were granted in 1915, and at that time the Government of New Zealand realised that great efforts were required to grapple with this problem. It put on the Statute Book certain Acts which with amendments were in force to-day, and generally it had done well for tho men disabled during tho war. Timos, however, had changed considerably in the last six years, and the £2 per week allowed 1 under tho original Act was not worth as much to-day as in 1915. The cost of living had increased considerably, and, tjie association contended that tho whole of tho pensions should bo revised. Men who were 50 per cent, disabled should receive a 75 per cent, increase in their pensions. That, he thought, was a reasonable proposition. He moved:

That this meeting of citizens of Wellington calls upon Government and Parliament to seriously reconsider the present scale of pensions, and to increase by 75 per cent, the following:—(a) Soldiers’ widows with children; (b) widowed mothers whose son or sons were her sole support; , (c) badly disabled soldiers whose disability is over 50 per cent. Mrs. G. W. Robertson seconded the motion.

Sir Andrew Russell said that he would preface his remarks by reading a few words from a speech of His Majesty the King in June, 1919, regarding wounded soldiers. His Majesty said: "There remains the duty of seeing that they are not forgotten, and, above all, tho duty of caring for the wounded and disabled, and helping them to find a place in tho normal work of the community.” It depended on the returned soldiers and the community as a whole whether tho question of pensions was satisfactorily solved. It was ,q. fairly heavy charge they were asking the people of this country to face even when confining it to the men who were badly disabled and widows and dependants. Approximately it would mean .£700,000, but that figure would bo considerably reduced liecause while they were, asking for an increase in the case of those who wore 50 per cent, disabled, they ' were also asking for a revision of tho temporary pensions. They believed with a, proper revision of the temporary pensions it would be found that there were some cases where men were receiving pensions to which they were not entitled, or, at any rate, pensions which were larger than they should receive, and he thought these people would willingly give them up for those who were less fortunately placed than themselves. Owing to the purchasing power of the sovereign decreasing, the pensioner was not "placed in a fair position to-day. Canada had recognised that, and had paid 50 per cent, on the basic rates. They quite recognised as an association that if it was fair at the present moment to ask for an increase in pensions owing to the high cost of living, the pensions should bo revised as the cost of living decreased 1 , although there should bo a definite permanent minimum pension, lie recognised they were asking for money deservedly, but at a it was extremely scarce. They could not shift tho responsibility on to the shoulders of the Gbrennment. That responsibility belonged to the community. If the money was found for this purpose tho public would have to practice self-sacrifice and economy, for that was the only way they could' meet their obligations.

Mrs. A. M‘Vicar said 1 that the returned soldiers considered it a sacred duly to look after tho dependants of those who fought side by side with them in the Great War, ‘and did not return. They considered the pension hopelessly inadequate. There were in New Zealand 2031 war widows and 6SI had no children. There were 1353 requiring help. The pension of the widow with children was -C2 par week, with 10s. for each child, but the speaker could not see how the widow and family were to bo fed and clothed on that amount. The rent and food alone would cost .£2 17s. fid., leaving onlv 2b. fid. for clothes, boots, school, furniture, insurance, etc. She thought that Vns not worthy of the country, for which tho soldier had given his' life. They wanted to see justice done to these widows. She thought .£3 10s. was a fair amount to allow a widow nt the present time.

Afr. D, S. Smith sold that pensions were granted to soldiers because thev had lost the ordinary conveniences and amenities of life on account of war service. The Government could not restore an arm or a leg, and compensated the soldier with money. It was an attempt to do justice to him. Regarding the Pension Board, Air. Smith said it was guided largely '.by medical evidence in assessing flit- amount of pension. Dr. Izard, the medical officer on the board, had given great satisfaction. What the association was complaining about was not so much the medical work of tho board, as its assessments in regard to the economic needs nf dependants. It would be better if all dependents’ pensions were dealt with by ,'i special board, and its members should include a woman. In such eases they did not want doctors at all. but people of wide sympathy. The present Aledical Appeal Board had nothing to do, and was not ■much use. The £2 per week pension, granted in 1915. was inadequate to-day. when tho cost of living was taken into consideration. The sum of ,S 1 per week allowed for an attendant was also inadequate. Ho thought that if the opinions of Drs. Wylie, Aelaiid, and. Izard were obtained several anomalies in the Act would soon be removed. Mr G Mitehell. M.P., endorsed the remarks of the previous speakers Ho said he had never lost, an opportunity of bringing under the notice of Parbnment tho matter of pensions. Be did not think -£3 per week was fair compensation for a widow and two ohildrei . After the chairman had replied, tae motion was carried unanimously.