SOLDIERS' PENSIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 May 1916, Page 4

SOLDIERS' PENSIONS.

AN AMENDING BltL. MORE LIBERAL PROVISIONS. A FRANK DISCUSSION. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. On resuming after dinner, Mr. Allen moved the second reading of the War Pensions Amendment Bill. He outlined the principal alterations. Clause 3 enacted that the provisions of the principal act should, apply to members of the Expeditionary. Force prior to the date of their departure from New Zealand. The clause extends' the benefits of the 4ct to the persons engfiged in New Zealand on military service in connection wijth the war. Clause 7is substituted for section 13 of the principal Act. It emits all reference to the ages of applicants, and is extended so as to apply to parents of disabled soldiers, as Well as to parents of deceased soldiers. It also provides that a pension granted to a widowed mother whose son was her cole support shall not in any case b? less than the pension would he payable to his wife. Clause S extends privileges as to payment of pensions out of" New Zealand. Clause fl is substituted for section 15 of the principal Act. Tt p-.ovides that the Board shall not take into consideration the inrome or property rf applicant in computing tlie amount of the pension payable to a member of tlie forces or to his wife and children. Clause 10; speaking generally, provides tiiat pensions commence as ct the dat" if death, or from date of discharge in r«sneet to disablement. This clause allows the Board to fix another date—hl when- applications are the proper time; (b) where pensions 'arc granted to wives married after disablement of husbands or to chi'dren horn after the death or disablement of their father; the benefits of the Act to be extended to certain men serving on HM.S. Philomel. Another clause allows 1 the Board in special cases to grant penr.'on to a person not otherwise entitled thereto, but has not sufficient ineana of support and has suffered loss because of. Die death or disablement of •> metnlvr of the forces. Clause 13 nnko-i sneeiM provision for computation of pensions \-\ eases where pensions are i'l»o in.y»h!c by the Imperial flovernment. or lie o>v. eminent 1 of other parts of the Empire. Clause 14 validates pa'-ments of pensions out of New Zealand. The Minister explained tin- alterations made in the schedules.. The t«tal rejected applications were ft*. Twelve claims had been reduced, 171 men !n<l received £~yi. In no case did inv linn receive ]oes tlinn 20s, Onlv twelve received that amount weekly. The prisent cost of the petition* system was £!i:i.ono. He said New . 'Zealand was willing to do all she could of what any other nation was doing, Mr. Poland said the provision* of l>ie Bill were the result of criticism of the Act passed last season. Even now the meaure did not go far conch. "/» contended that the pensions for distilled soldiers or w«"v ""% adequate. He suggested-that Mi". Bill be referred to a select committee. Mr. Webb contended tint the pen«'"n«i? were not sufficiently generous. Titer must adversely affect recruiting. TV siiid there was a dui'/er of h> colored races. The services of Mie men f.i'ing their.blood in tiiiv n: «!•>■!.* were rxt heius! properly recognised. T)r. Newman wished t;i impress upon flic (iovepu«ont that ."'s pet wei-V '-"a not enough for maintenance ef a >'itld. Mr. IJuddo did rot confer tl>- BUI K-vcred all the ohi-Winu-- nii.d" ii°t war. Vie did not think the provision* f-.ir widows sufficient. Mr. Brown (Napier), hoped lint, widows would he given i!os, and children 7s "d per week. Mr. Sidey (Dunedin South) thou"ht the Government should err on the* side of liberality. Mr. Wilford (Hntt) said. wiv«s v''o had incomes were better on* under thfl new Bill, hut the position had not heen improved for wives without me»n«. lie contended the pension should he n» generous as we can afford. The Bill could be further improved by reference to a small select committee. The debate was adjourned, and the House rose at 11.15 p.m.