IMPERIAL ARMY PENSIONERS

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 111, 8 February 1928, Page 10

IMPERIAL ARMY PENSIONERS

Sir,—May I through your valuable paper draw attention to a system that is not only a. disgrace and a failure, but a source of danger to those who, for the sake of life and liberty, of our Empire, submitted to the strictest discipline possible, and made a sacrifice, of health, and a consentient one of position, for which they will suffer severely for life. ~ ~ , I refer to the Imperial Army disabled soldier on pension ?n New Zealand, with a view to “getting things done” to make his yoke easy and his burden light. The 'chief thorn m the flesh is that every little adjustment or change has to be submitted to England for veto. In my own case it took over nine (9) months to get. a decided answer, and then only after many hurry-up letters and one cablegram had been sent. I have suffered for nine years from the system so much that a high official at Wellington shook bands with me and sympathised, saying “I have never seen a case so messed about as yours has been. It can’t be helped, of course.” I renlied. “But surely if a thing is worth doing it is worth doing well!” I am afraid that it will only be done well when the New Zealand Minister of Pensions is allowed to deputise and decide “on the spot” on anv adjustment of pension due to changes and hospital admission. Medical Boards, discharges, etc., or a pension being made and assured as permanent. I will give a brief outline of my case. Please compare with New Zealand cases, and meditate thereon. In 1915 I was invalided from the Imperial Army after eight and a half years’ service, 6 years being Indian, and nine

months active service. Illness, Neurasthenia, severe, aggravated by war service (disablement ‘otal). Pension, tenpence per day for two years. Hank, 'Lance-Sergeant. Mark this, as it was before the days of conscription (which revolutionised army pay and pension), and this was the total pension for illness. If I had been shot blind I would have graciously received 2s. per day.! To cut a long story short —since coming to New Zealand nine years ago, I have felt the “drought'’ in the Pensions Department. I have been in hospital three times, once for over two years, and oh. the dislocation of pension! Everything had to go backwards and forwards to England, so I can honestly say that I was more often without any pension than I was with it. The old re•nly from Wellington Pensions. “No word yet from England. We cannot do anything.” and this ;.t a time when I was desperately in need, such as just on discharge from hospital, etc. At the end T lost my New Zealand life’s position (through army disability), where I was getting .£'3l7 ner annum, with possible increase to £9OO, and what did the Imperial authorities award me? A sum of Bs. Bd. per week for life. I could, in fact, sacrifice all with a good heart for the Empire. I have always been taught, to do so. The suffering I have undergone I cannot describe. Perhaps, when our learned parsons are finished wrangling about the Revised Prayer Book, tliev mav understand that “they serve God best who most nobly serve l.umanitv.” and come over to Macedonia and help us.—l am, etc., IMPERIAL DISABLED.