PENSIONS FOR SOLDIERS’ WIDOWS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 379, 13 June 1928, Page 2

PENSIONS FOR SOLDIERS’ WIDOWS

TRAINING T.B. PATIENTS Press Association. WELLINGTON. Tuesday. The New Zeeland Returned Soldiers' Conference to-night passed resolutions asking that the War Pensions Act should be amended to provide for pensions for the widows of ex-soldiers whose deaths are attributed to war service, irrespective of a pre-war engagement to marry or the date of marriage. Other resolutions were as follow: That old-age pensions be available as of right at the age of 60 to returned soldiers, and at the age of 55 on the production of a medical certificate that his earning capacity is impaired; that the Imperial Government be asked to remove the clause stipulating that a claim for pensions must be made within seven years of the soldier’s discharge from the forces: that in view of the large number of Imperial exservice men now living in New Zealand. the conference urges upon the - - . - . - mediate necessity for entering into a reciprocal agreement with the Imperial Government, whereby the claims of such Imperial ex-service men for pensions and treatment may be investigated and decided by the New Zealand War Pensions Board, and, if necessary. the Appeal Board; that the New Zealand War Pensions Act be amended so that the New Zealand pension may be made available to men [ domiciled in New Zealand prior to enlistment, and who served in the Imperial or other Empire forces. That it be a recommendation to the Government to re-establish vocational training in connection with T.B. sol- j diers, particularly at Pukeora, where j there are 38 T.B. returned men; that the interest from the canteen fund for one year be used for the purpose of granting relief and providing work for unemployed returned soldiers: and that the Government be requested to j subsidise this amount pound for pound, and that the council appoint a i deputation to wait upon the members j of the Canteen Board resident in Wellington to stress the resolution.

R.S.A. RESOLUTIONS . - The conference decided to approach the proper authorities, with a view to arranging, so far as is consistent with public policy, the fact that a wrongdoer is a returned soldier should not be featured in correspondence, and showed that efforts were being made in various parts of the Dominion to get up organisations in opposition to the Returned Soldiers’ Association. It was decided that a sub-committee be got up to consider the matter, and to send a deputation to the disaffected areas. Members took a serious view of the matter, as there was a danger that the movement would spread. It seemed clear that the men concerned did not realise their obligation to their