AFRICAN VETERANS

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 3, Issue 661, 13 October 1933, Page 5

AFRICAN VETERANS

(Press Assn.-

BETTER PENSIONS EXECUTIVE ASKS GOVERNMENT FOR A REVISION OF " CONDITIONS ART UNION FUNDS

— By Telegraph — Copyright).

Wellington, Thursday A deputation comprising members of the executive of the South African Veterans' Association waited upon the Minister of Defence, Hon. J. G. Cobbe this afternoon urging a reduction in the age of persons receiving veterans' old age pensions from 65 years to 60 years, and an increase in the pensions from £13 to £26. They also asked that New Zealanders who served with other units should be eligible for the pension. The deputation also made a request to the Minister of Internal Affairs that the full benefits 'of an art union should be used in relieving distress among South African War veterans. Mr. Cobbe replying, pointed out that a reduction in the age of those entitled to a pension would mean an additional cost of £8600 this year and that that amount would be increased for a few years to follow. However, he had full sympathy with the representations and would consider the question with the Commissioner of Pensions. Hon. J. A. Young pointed out that out of the last four art unions a sum totalling £34,000 had been allocated for relief purposes and he said that he could not answer for an association receiving the full benefits of one, although he would go into the question. This form of raising money, observed the Minister, was not as profitable as it had been. As time wore on art unions were becoming considerably less renumerative.