WAR PENSIONS.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 355, 9 February 1937, Page 5

WAR PENSIONS.

Conference With Minister Of Labour. Bless Association—Copyright. Wellington, To-day. A conference between the Minister of Labour, lion. H. T. Armstrong, and the executive of the Returned Soldiers Association was held in Wellington yesterday to discuss the diffi culties over the payment of allowances and pensions to war veterans. There are admittedly many anomalies in the existing position owing to the need of numerous returned soldiers to supplement their pensions by income from some other sources. The Minister said he had asked the executive of the Returned Soldiers’ Association to meet him and tai7< things over. “I think that as a result of the conference I am now in a position to recommend something to the Government that will be .acceptable to the returned soldiers and also, I believe, satisfactory to all concerned.” Mr Armstrong explained ’that the Labour D: bailment had been paying sustenance to a number of necessitous war veterans from the Employment Fund. These men were being paid the rates they were entitled to under the departmental regulations. It was found, hdwever, that in cases where the recipient’s income from war veterans’ allowance and sustenance was above the amount specified under the Allowances Act, the Pensions Department were deducting the proportionate sum from the pension. So Bbe Labour Department decided that after a certain date the Pensions Department would have to pay the full amount of the pension, and we would consider whether we were justified in paying anything from the Employment Fund. The talk to-day with the executive of the Returned Soldiers’ Association has helped to straighten Cut some difficulties, and I now see my way clear to make a recommendation to the Government. 1 am unable at the moment, however, to disclose By proposals.”