INQUIRY ASSURED

Hokitika Guardian, 20 October 1933, Page 6

INQUIRY ASSURED

PENSIONS FOR EX-SERVICEMEN.

UNABLE TO PROVE DISABILITY.

WELLINGTON, October 19

A promise to investigate the subject of pensions for soldiers who could nor prove that their disability was due to war service was given by Mr Forbes in tiie House yesterday, when Mr Lee (Grey Lynn) moved to introduce the War Pensions Amendment Bill. The Bill .proposes to permit all soldiers who 1

lave seen overseas service to claim a war pension in the event of a breakdown of health on the--ground that active service contributed to their allhealth.

Mr Hargest ..(Invercargill) said that in promising.; to .support the measure he was sorry,, that other ex-soldiers m the House haU not been taken by Mr .'Lee intq his cbiifidbnce. He hoped that Mr Lee’s desire to serve ex-soldiers was nob subservient to liis desire to serve liis party.

Mr Hargest’s remarks were described by Mr- Atmore (Nelson) as ‘‘very ungenerous.”

There was only one reasonable thing for the Government to do said the leader of the Opposition, Mr Savage. It was obvious there was a majority in the'House in favour of the measure and ythe Government should take it up.

•The Prime Minister said that all were sympathetic with ex-servicemen whose health had broken down, but their sympathies had to be reined by the means at their disposal. It always had been the desire of the Government to interpret the present legislation as generously as possible, and lie would bb glad to look into the whole question.