ALLEGATIONS NOT TRUE

Hokitika Guardian, 30 May 1929, Page 2

ALLEGATIONS NOT TRUE

BURIAL OK RETURNED MEN. WELLINGTON, May 28. Rdfci"ring to statements which have circulated from time to time to the effect that deceased returned soldiers in some cases have been buried as paupers owing to the alleged indifference of the Government and others concerned, the Minister of Defence, the Hon. T. M. Wilford, stated to-day tint such statements were entirely, contrary to the fact. Qi-iginqlly, regulations regarding funerals, which were gazetted in Decemb.er, j Bl7, provided tlms 'funerals lie provided for pf the Expeditionary. Eorcq who djed jyjthin.a certain time of ( their discharge,, irpin .disabilities .finysed by .military, qervice; but as far b,ack as .February,!?", 1918, the then Minister..,; of defence (Sir James Allen) minuted-,a ( ) lepj'irtniental file to the effect' that in _ eases of, indigence be thought that the .usual regulations on the ‘subject should jbe* relaxed. Owing, however, ,to. the f«\ct that in some cases, where death .was not the result of war service, the Department was not advised of the death of returned men until "after burial, and it occasionally, happened that such men, if without known relatives or means, were buried by charitable aid boards. On learning ’ that si\Hr 1 ejises 1 had ’occurred, Sir Heaton'7l limit's. Minister oif Defence, on August 31, 1923. obtained authority for the payment by the Pensions ■■Department, ol reasonable burial .expenses “slot* f ex-mem-bers of tho N.Z.K E. in "'eases. • where they " would -'Otherwise be; buried as paupers,” irrespective of whether death was due to AVriU's'ervif e WfUiftf.

This policy had been in force ever since, and Mr •A\ ilUrd -srpd ; Hint the present Government bud /Wl Attention oif discontinuing it. As a matter ol fact, several burials at the Government’s expense had been authorised since he had taken charge of the Department in December last. “ Of-course,” added Air Wilford, “ it is impossible for the Pensions Department to take action unless it is immediately notified of any such death, and the Returned Soldiers’ Associations can be and have been of great assistance in this respect. It must, however, be clearly understood that i'f, on investigation, it is found that deceased left personal estate or had rclatvies who were in a position to bear the expense of burial, the Department will take the necessary; steps to recoup itself. .

“I hope,” he continued, “that this statement will he given every publicity, for recently the Government has been most unjustly and unfairly attacked for Ifailure to carry out its natural obligation. This Government will never stand for the burial of returned soldiers as paupers. I say that definitely. Everyone of my colleagues supports it, and, in supporting it, is merely carrying out a. definite Cabinet decision passed some years ago hv the late Government.”