SOLDIERS’ PENSIONS

Hokitika Guardian, 30 April 1932, Page 5

SOLDIERS’ PENSIONS

EFFECT OF REDUCTIONS. (By Telegraph—Per Press Association.)

HAWERA, April 23. During an address given at the annual meeting of the South Taranaki Returned Soldiers’ Association at Hawera, Mr A. E. Gorton, assistant general secretary of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association, replied to recent criticism made by the Christchurch branch of the executive concerning the proposals made to the Government by the Dominion Executive for an amended scale of reductions in soldiers’ pensions in place of those recommended by the Economy Commission. The Dominion Executive, said Mr Gorton, had protested strongly to Cabinet agivnst' the commission’s proposals, which included: (a) A 50 per edit, cut in all economic pensions for the year 1032-113; (b) a .10 per cent, cut in dependents' pensions; and (o) a fmtlmr 50 per cent, cut, or the total abolition of the economic pension for the year 1933-34. The Ministers interviewed evinced every sympathy with the returned soldier pensioners, i and expressed regret that any reduction at all was necessary. At the game time they made it abundantly clear that sacrifice to some degree was essential. The Prime Minister’s intention was to cut all war pensions b\ 10 per cent., thus effecting a saving of approximately £125,000 annually. After protracted conferences the Government had decided that at least £75,000 must be mived. but as a result of representations the amount to be sacrificed was reduced to £66,400. The not outcome of the- Dominion Executive’s representations was the exemption from the cuts of ta) pensions to soldiers for physical disablement: tbs pen-ions under the Act until 10*13 excluding economic pensions to the children of deceased soldiers. The South Taranaki meeting adopted a resolution of confidence in the Do mi niou Exccut i vo.