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Hokitika Guardian, 27 July 1917, Page 2

TnAT an amendment is necessary to the War Pensions Act with a view to greater elasticity is too often apparent. The returned men who com© back sick atnd disabled should be dealt wlijth automatically upon their discharge without being compelled to approach another set of authorities to grant th© relief which is so patently theirs by the inherent right of national service. When a disabled man is discharged the Defence authorities are fully cognisant of all his circumstances, and it would be most desirable in every way for the war pension to bo determined at that moment. Besides the Minister of Defence is also tho Minister for War Pensions, and it would be a simple plan for the Minister to direct the Pension Board to act as here suggested which would not only be the most efficient, but also the most desirable in. the interests of the soldiers in whom the people have the most concern. In any case tho Minister controls the Pension Board to its uttermost decision, for the Act. lays down that any determination of. the Board shall.be subject to the approval of the Minister of Defence. This course was certainly desirable in several cases .brought under our notice, for as was said in the House the other day, disabled men should not be put to alTthe worry and trouble they have frequently to undergo to reach some finality or satisfaction in regard to pension payments. The whole subject is one of first consideration at this juncture, and the present treatment of the men demands the reform now suggested.

To-day an appeal is being made to the people of this district to supplement food supplies by grooving potatoes. The appeal comes from the local Advisory Committee of the National Efficiency Board, and there is every reason for the people to pay something more than passing attention to the request. Although the war has been in progress for three years, the peopl© of these fortunate isles have been but lightly touched in a personal way by tho ravages of war. We are so far removed from the seat of the conflict that we cannot realise what personal conflict with the rigours of war actually means. In this way there is indifference to the real situation which it is clear must be growing worse and worse as the war is prolonged. The enormous cost of the war as first disclosed in th© British House of Commons suggest the economic upheaval which must oomo to pass sooner or later, and however remote we at th© Antipodes might be wo cannot escape tjie surge of that tremendous financial roll. Tho cable nevjs yesterday Trom Sydney sounded a not© of warning hr regard to economy, a fact which shows that the danger is drawing nearer. In these-direful circumstances the people should' become impressed with tho duty they owe to themselves to prepare for tho eventful and inevitable days to come. The provision of ample food supplies is a sensible way of meeting possible, in fact probable, contingencies, and the people will be well advised if they set about responding in a practical way to the appeal now made und grow potatoes.