WAR PENSIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 384, 2 June 1915, Page 8

WAR PENSIONS.

THE GOVERNMENT'S SCHEME. STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER. liy Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. Speaking at a meeting of sports representative:! in connection witu tile local •Carnival Queen Festival, the Minister for Internal Affairs (lion. 11. 1). J'.e'l) made an important statement rohil.i\ie to tlie (iovernment's intentions regarding tin; pensions schema for wounded soldiers :and dependents of those killed in battle. A good deal had lieen said about it being the duty of the country to take care of the wounded in future and of the dependents of those ir.eu who die on the field of battle, "That is sy," said the Minister. ''Von may #«k tlien, 'Why bother about patriotic funds V (Whatever fie Government does it <locs uiiilonniy. There can he no (listini'iiiahing men with children as against men with none, and men with parents to support from men with none.. When the law is ■laid down we cannot discriminate between the poor and tina better off. We have the experience of pa?t military pensions to go upon. The. pensioners fought hard in the past, and their case is a precedent for the future. They -bitterly resented, the obligation in the old days and till quite recently! to show the. need of the pension. They should not 'be asked to show the need or to pauperise themselves for the. sake of the pension. The pensions will 'be quite -uniform." Mr. Bell said the patriotic fund could be utilised to supplement the pensions, which after all nm»t be kept witliing certain limits.