R.S.A. NEWS

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3650, 11 December 1920, Page 4

R.S.A. NEWS

A REM A I?. FABLE COINCIDENCES..

In compiling the records for the issue of the illuminated certificated of service, the Defence Departures has run across the following onique ' case: —Three brothers at Hawera all went into camp on the same date, 24/10/14. embarked for overseas on ,the same date, returned to New Zea-' Zealand on the same transport;. • 0/4/H>, and were all discharged a month later under the heading : "Termination of period' of engagement. ' '-=-Quick March. . • HOSPITAL PATIENTS-" WAR- . RANTS. The Secretary of the R.S.A. hasbeen notified that hospital patients desirous of travelling at Christmas time will receive free warrants for rail, steamji, and coach where ne T Cessary, and that probably arraangements will be made to pay the pensions a little earlier in the month of December than is usual.

GRATUITY ANOMALIES. When the New Zealand Government decided to pay its soldiers a war gratuity the regulations provided that in the case of a deceasedsoldier the gratuity could only be paid to the soldier te widow, children, father, or mother, or any person in receipt of a pension as a dependant of the soldier. This regulation gave rise to a great number of anomalies, and in many cases hardships. The R.S.A. were soon alive to the situation, and a deputation waited on the Hon Minister of Defence (Sir James Allen u*Qth a request that a committee be set up to deal with the cases. Sir James Allen did not take kindly to the proposal for some time, but

after having some specific eases presented to him, he eventually agreed,

with the result that he appointed a. committee, which eommeuced its "sittings on June 16, 1920. A statement dealing with the work of the committee was made during the month by Mr Aldricji, the B.S.A. representative, who said that a number of recommendations > had been made to the Minister. During the present session a cluase had been added to the Military Service Amend- , mentj Bill giving the.,Minister power ,

to pay the gratuity to any relative of the deceased soldier or to any person who, during the infancy, or any period of the infancy of the ceased, had been charged with the maintenance, care and control. These cases might be referred to the War Pensions Board for consideration i and report to the Minister. "This clause has a very far-reach-ing effect." said Mr Aldrich,, "and does away with a very large number of anomalies. A further clause authorises the Minister to pay the gratuity to the personal estate of the person eligible, where any such person has died after the passing of the Act which authorised the payment of gratuities." ,

Two other matters called for a. i good of attention by the Committee, and these were the men whowere evacuated from a theatre of *war sick and wounded and returned : to New Zealand and who afterwards ■ proceeded again on active service.. In these cases the Committee recom- ! mended a minimum gratuity of 18: months for the- first period and the ■ actual service overseas for the sec- - ond period. The recommendations had been approved by Cabinet. The - ; [ other, was the case of men who were I returned to New Zealand, but who were afterwards sent overseas for •further medical treatment. Cabinet Jiad approved of the payment of the gratuity for the time so spent- overseas. The regulations governing* the - payment of gratuity provided that in the case of a soldier who had returned from active service sick or - wounded he should be granted a minimum gratuity of eighteen* months, but where a soldier, after - bis return, had received treatment in a hospital in. New Zealand as an in-patient for a period of six months s continuously, a minimum of two years' gratuity was paid. The Anomalies Committee found that this - reference to '' continuous treatment' '" was unfair to many soldiers who, having returned in the early period, had received hospital treatment at different times extending over a very long period, many having been under treatment for as much as 18 -" months. The Committee, therefore, recommended "that where in their * opinion the. soldier had been handicapped by these broken periods of treatment, a minimum of two years* * gratuity should be paid. This recommendation had also been approved by Cabinet. . gP

SURPLTJS DEFENCE STORES. Returned soldiers who ordered" ' v -fence stores through the- s<vcrqta»y of tlie Taihape Returned Soldiers' ' Association arc ad<e4s«l- that three - br<!os of stores ha**o

ana -will be available for distribution on and after Monday next. Premises will have been "hired fox the sorting of the goods, and when this as done, the articles ordered will be distributed to those who ordered them^