WAR PENSIONS AND FUNDS.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 December 1915, Page 8

WAR PENSIONS AND FUNDS.

CAN SEAMEN PARTICIPATE 1 By Telegraph,—Press Association. Wellington, Yesterday. A deputation which originated from the War Funds Society, Wellington, interviewed the Minister of STarine, Dr. McNab, to-day as to the position of officers and seamen in the merchant service—both those engaged in ordinary overseas vessels, as well as on transports—in the matter of war pensions. The matter arose out of a discussion at the War Funds Society as to whether seamen, firemen, and officers of the merchant service come within the category of those to whom funds could be paid, and it was said that they would be classed as auxiliaries to whom funds could be paid. Mr. J. Hutcheson. on behalf of the deputation, argued that seamen of all merchant vessels in the danger zone were entitled to be considered in the pension scheme, and urged the necessity of something being done in that direction. Already a scheme was in operatin at Home, and this the deputatin submitted to the Minister. Hon. Dr. McNab promised to go into the matter at once, and suggested that the deputation also see the Minister for Defence, who was the controller of transports, and he could then confer with the latter.