WAR PENSIONS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIII, Issue 70, 22 November 1915, Page 5

WAR PENSIONS.

NIGGARDLY administration. f“.THE ACT MUST BE AMENDED.” At the confqyeiK-e of delegates fi'om | Patriotic Societies at Wellington on Friday, a discussion took place regarding the niggardly administration of pensions, and an interview took place with the Hon. A, M. Myers (the Minister in charge of the Department). He I frankly admitted that in his opinion , the Pensions Act \vould have to he amended next session, j Mr A. M. Ongley (Feilding) suggest- - led that railway passes should have L been granted to members of the coni ference. So far as the adminstration , of the Pensions Act was concerned, s he said, there was a general feeling ■ that it was not as liberal as it ought ■ to be. Mr C. Williams (CJiristchurcli)' i lagreed that the administration seemed ; to be extremely niggardly, i Mr Ongley added that with contris buttons from the patriotic societies the t pensions were likely to be still further ; reduced. The chairman (Mr W. Ferguson): “That is what I am afraid of. There will be a tendency to expect additions i to pensions from the local , associations.” Mr Ongley: “The experience has been that where any funds are available for a family the pensions have been reduced in proportion. lam afraid the deductions will be greater still. I am satisfied that the allowances are altogether too small.” • The chairman“My opinion is that ■ the persons who have been thrifty • ought to be encouraged by giving them ■ a little more for having been thrifty.” Mr J. Masters (Stratford) said there - was a feeling that the Government de- : sired to use the money privately sub--1 scribed as far as possible for wound- ; ed. It therefore behoved the patriotic > societies throughout the Dominion to ■ watch things very closely, and if such 1 was the case to leave no stone unturn- - ed to upset the Government scheme.

The Hon. J. T. Paul (Otago) thought there could he little doubt that the administration of the Pensions Board was not satisfactory. Mr C. B. Cray (Timaru) quoted a case where a man with a broken. Pintle had oijly been granted £1 a week for three months. How the unfortunate fellow was going to live on that wqs a mystery. He had been discharged, and this was his only source of income. L. 0. H. Tripp paifl offered to pay a man’s ipsqrance,, and the latter fold him it would he no advantage, ' as in case of accident, tiny insurance money would he deducted Irom the pension. RESOLUTIONS CARRIED. On the motion pf Dir Ongley it was resolved—“ That in the opinion of this meeting the Pensions Act should he liberally interpreted by the hoard, and should he amended so as, to provide i(|r ah alteration of subsectipu % pf petition 15 so ajs to provide more liberal allowances fbr dependents of soldiers.” It was further resolved, on the nioiton of i S; f Gray^fSouth 1 Canterbury—'“That in the opinion, 'of , this meeting) the Government sljojdd treat returnee! soldiers libe’rally in the matter of inilway travelling.” REPRESENTATIONS TO DIINISTER -/ ■ Th return of the Hon. Mr A. DI, Myers to the conference was then secured, and the views of the delegates were submitted to him. The chairman said that apparently any savings by a soldier went against him in the administration of the pension, whereas the, unthrifty benefited. The reverse should be the case. Dir A. DI. Ongley remarked that, there was general disappointment that the Act had not been more liberally interpreted.

DIR DIYERS’S REPLY

The Hon. A. M. Myers said he did not think it justifiable to describe the administration of the Pensions Board as niggardly. Whatever defects had been disclosed in the system were the fault of Parliament. All I can say is this; It is quite clear that throughout the country there is a strong feeling, and rightly so, that those who unfortunately have to apply for a pension should be treated liberally. Now I think it is quite evident that on reilectjon, as far as subsection 2 .of clause 15 is concerned, it will be necessary for Cabinet to reconsider the position. I do not think for a moment that it was contemplated that because anyone had been.thrifty his dependents should be penalised, and I may say that already I have noticed that drawback and 1 am bringing it before Cabinet at next meeting. 1 think the matter is sufficiently important and urgent for it to be considered forthwith. It is unfortunate that that position has to be faced, but you may be sure of this ;

that the Cabinet will deal with that aspect of the question at the next meeting, with what result, of course, I cannot say. In regard to the. case referred to by Mr Paul I have not had an opportunity of looking into it, hut if the hoard has only granted a temporary pension it does not follow that on further inquiry it will not he made a permanent one or increased to the maximum sum laid down hy the Act. The hoard has a serious responsibility to carry out and cases have arisen where it has been shown there was no justification for an application. I think after the discussion we have had to-day you may he sure it will endeavor to carry out its duties in a manner that is likely to produce the results that we all desire. WEAKNESS TO BE RECTIFIED. “It is evident,” the Minister went on “that experiences have disclosed certain weaknesses of the Act which we shall have to rectify at the earliest moment. That can only he done when Parliament next meets. If there are any individual cases that you think need consideration I shall only be too , pleased to have (hem placed before rue with a view to having them thbifougldy investigated hy the Pensions ltd. Of course, rh g T&ipbusibijjj t y ..of-:' caHyii)g out the Actt remains Every case should he investigated before comment's are made on fit. Our feelings are very much touched tl,ie molinfnti in regard to our hraff#hojp who dome back and our hearts; are carried away in the earnest desire to. dp justice to dependents. As a result <tf a conference i between Mr Russell, Mr Herdman, Mr Allen and myself we recognise that it is the State’s duty to see that every person eligible for a pension should have every facility afforded. A system has been arranged of getting into touch with persons immediately and a pamphlet of instructions .is- to.be issued.’*. i t ' ; k, ! ‘ flagrant case. ' M ‘1 , Mr J. A. Nash (Palmerston North) ! sanL>sevciral cases .had occurred district where people had not received, pro,per consideration, j One, example was two girls who were utterly helpless. They had two brothers reported missing at the front. He himself had filled in the application form, and it had hefeh returned with the hare statement, “Pension Refused.” They were unable to do any continuous domestic work through an hereditary weakness. They had a father of 65 in ill-health, a married brother with six children, and another brother who had been twice rejected as a recruit, and was only earning a pound a week on a farm. The two hoys who went to the front had consistently supported their sisters for years. They had tried a lodging hou*se until all their hoarders hut one went to the front ,and consequently they have to give it up. This was a case of great hardship, and it was not singular. He would like to know if it were possible for the patriotic societies to get a copy of the evidence on which the Pensions Board acted. My Myers said the board received information in confidence, and it would not be fair to communicate it. The board might, if inclined, convey a certain amount of information. He had under consideration the appointment of local committees to make inquiries to assist the Pensions Board. Mr F. H. Cooke (Palmerston North) suggested some reason should he given for refusing an application. Mr Myers; “My own personal opinion is that, if possible, the reasons should he stated for refusing an application.” Dir Nash: “Will it be possible to have these cases reviewed?” Mr Myers: “You may he sure that that case will he reviewed.”