NO NEED FOR PENSION.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 31, 7 June 1915, Page 3

NO NEED FOR PENSION.

A PATRIOTIC VETERAN. The Defence Minister recently received a letter I‘rom a well-to-do military pensioner, who served in the Maori war, covering a cheque for the full amount of the pension moneys which the gentleman had -eceiveu, and renouncing all claim to pensions in the future. The text of the letter received by the Minister was as follows‘A a holder ol the -New Zealand war medal 1 applied for and obtained the pension provided under ‘The Pensions Act. 1913.’ I made this application villi the idea of showing my appreciation ol the spirit which prompted the promoter of the Bill, and not through actual need of the pension, but the changed conditions existing in the Dominion at the present have led me to think that our Dominion has greater need of the £36 a year than 1 have. Will you kindly instruct the proper authority to cancel my claim to this pension and place the enclosed cheque lor £42 to any account you may deem desirable f This is the actual amount 1 have drawn.”

The -Minister replied as follows:—‘‘l am very grateful to you lor your generosity both in returning the cheque and cancelling the pension, and if you approve i shall be pleased to place rlie £l2 to tne credit ol the fund lor the comforts of the sick and wounded in Egypt, Malta, and elsewhere. 1 will ask the Pensions Department whether they can devote the amount that you are entitled to each year to the turn! to assist the sick and wounded soldiers, either at the present time oi upon their return to New Zealand.”