RETURNED SOLDIERS' CONFERENCE.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 May 1919, Page 3

RETURNED SOLDIERS' CONFERENCE.

PENSIONS QUESTION

[PEE PRESS ASSOCIATION. —COPYRIGHT.]

OHRSTHURCH, This Day.

Tho Executives remit regarding pensions was carried, also a' remit from Hawera that Cabinet be requested to direct the Pensions Hoard to apply the doctrine of pre-war disability only after a careful review of the whole circumstances of each case.

A remit that no soldiers’ pension be reduced without his having first appeared before a medical officer, and a Hamilton remit that the minimum pension be £3 15s weekly were carried. A motion by Mr Long (Auckland), that when tho application of returned soldier is refused by the Pensions Board ho shall bo allowed to appeal against the decision with a representative of the R.S.A. to conduct his appeal, was carried. It was decided that Government be approached to form a Pensions Appeal Board, also to affirm that tho Pensions Act should be amended to provide pensions being payable either in case of death or-disablement at any time after discharge, whore death or disablement was the result of war service.

Tho Returned Soldiers Conferenco discussed a proposal affirming the principle of paying totally disabled men their pre-war income, and referred tho question to the incoming Executive to obtain evidence of economists

Tho Conference resolved to acknowledge letters from the Union Federation of Labour and Canterbury Industrial Association expressing good wishes and preferring help.