MORE PENSIONS

Hokitika Guardian, 13 June 1928, Page 2

MORE PENSIONS

dedianded by r.s.a. (By Telegraph—Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Juno 12. The annual meeting of the Dominion Council of the R.S.A. opened toJ;iy> Sir Andrew Russell The report, in dealing with membership, notes it is once more on tho increase. Things seem to bo moving as they should do. First tho interests of cx-servico men in llio organisation increased, and then the membership to- Xf* tal swells. It is eight per cent over last year. Regret was expressed at tho failure of the Government to amend the Pensions Act in regard to widows and wives of disabled soldiers. Difficulties facing the Council in regard to efforts to find employment, for members were referred to. Approximately £32,000 was spent for the relief of unemployed during the past year, hut when it was realised that £27,000 of this actually provided work for nearly a thousand ex-service-men for periods ranging from two to seven months, it would be seen tho work of tho Association was of material assistance to the general publie as well as to ex-servicemen. The above amount does not include moneys collected by many local associations from various efforts such as

concerts, etc. WELLINGTON, Juno 12. ~ Tlie New Zealand Returned Soldiers,’Conference to-night passed resolutions as follows: “Asking that the War Pensions Act to lie amended to provide for pensions for the widows of ex-soldiers’ whose deaths were attributable to war. service, irrespective of a pre-war engagement to marry, or date of marriage. . '• J That Old Age Pensions lie available, as -of right, at the age of 60 to returned soldiers, and at the age of 55_ on the production of a medical certi-« ficato that their earning capacity isimpaired. That the Imperial Government be asked to remove the clause stipulating that a claim for pensions must be made within seven years of the soldiers’ discharge from the forces. That, in view of the large number of Imperial ex-service men now residing in New Zealand, the conference urges upon the New Zealand Government the immediate necessity of entering into a reciprocal agreement with the Imperial Government whereby the claims of such Imperial ex-ser T vice men for pensions and treatment may be investigated and decided by the New Zealand AVar Pensions Board and, if necessary, the Appeal Board.

That the New Zealand AVar Pensions Act lie amended so that the New Zealand pension bo made available.,to men domiciled in New Zealand prior to enlistment or who served with the Imperial or other Empire forces. That it bo a recommendation to the Government to re-establish vocational training in connection witli T.B. soldiers, particularly at Pukcora, where there are 38 T.B. returned men.

That this Council is of opinion that the wives of men in receipt of full pensions for dual disabilities, such as the loss of two legs or a leg and an eye, and who are otherwise organically sound, and who marry at any time after their discharge should he eligible to receive pensions in cases of serious organic or physical disability, such as T. 8., heart disease, etc., and in receipt of full pension. That the Council, however, feels that those marriages are not desirable and that the wives should not be eligible for pensions. That the interest from the Canteen Funds for one year bo used for the purpose of granting relief to the dependents of ex-soldiers and of providing work for the unemployed returned soldiers. That the Government 'be requested to subsidise this amount, and that the Council appoint a deputation to wait' upon the members of ,tlie Canteen Board • resident in AYellington to stress the resolution. •