SOLDIERS' PENSIONS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10605, 2 June 1920, Page 6

SOLDIERS' PENSIONS

INCREASED SCALE REQUIRED MINIMUM OF .£3 10s FOE. PERMANENTLY DISABLED MEN. Soldiers pensions were considered by delegates of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association, in conference yesterday. It was eomenued that the present scale was totally inadequate, nioro especially when the great increases in the cost of living were taken into consideration. Witn a vie iv to urging on tile Government the necessity of granting a substantial increase tne following remit was submitted to conference for endorsement:—"The committee recommends that the schedule of pensions for specific injuries of the War Pensions Act, 1917, and the second and third schedule thereto, be regraded by the addition ol Plus perceiittifee-s up to 175 per centum, (that as, M'i 10s per week) and the total percentage be the minimum pension for total permanent disablement, supplementary pensions and attendants' pension to be over and above such rate and that the dependents' pension bo assessed prorata, anl that the third schedule of tlio War Pensions Act, 1917, be regrade'd on account of certain anomalies existing therein."

Mr W. E>. Leadby (Christchurch) supported the motion on the grounds that owinj; to the increased cost of living the present pensions scheme is inadequate. Other members advocated scales of pension on a higher basis than that of the remit, but Dr. E. Boxer (Hastings) sounded a caution to the effect that members should have regard to the economics schedule. Could the country stand the pensionsiproposed bv some of the delegates? With this last opinion, Mr J. D. Harper (Wellington) agreed. Further remits bearing .on pensions and gratuities were adopted as follow : "To make Defence Department bonuses applicable to members on active service abroad as well as to those remaining in New Zealand."

"That all returned soldiers' pensions bo free of income tax."

"That War Pensions Appeal Board, consisting of three members, one to be a S.M., who shall be chairman, and two registered medical practitioners, one to be nominated by the N.Z.R.S.A., such members to hold office for the term of three years, be constituted."

"Where a discharged 6oldier dies and leaves a widow, such widow shall be ontitled to a pension for herself and any children of the marriage, irrespective of whether the soldier was engaged or married to such .person prior to enlistment." "That the allowance of 5s per diem as paid by the Defence Department to limbless men -whilst attending the limbless repair factory is inadequate, and that this allowance be at least doubled, also in respect to men resident in city or suburbs."

"That the time of soldiers in hospital in New Zealand be included in the period for gratuity in exactly the same way &g it is included in the case of soldiers who spent their time in the hospitals abroad." "That only returned doctors where possible be examining doctors under the Pensions Act and that this be put into operation immediately."