WAR PENSIONS SCHEME.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 July 1917, Page 6

WAR PENSIONS SCHEME.

MOVEMENT FOE IMPROVEMENT. (By Wire.—Own Correspondent). Wellington, July 1. The Order Paper shows already that members are going to (be interested this session in the question of improving the war pensions scheme. Suggestions are made that Now Zealand should adopt the British plan. Under the British warrant there are alternative bases for assessment of the amount of pension due. One is simple fixing of minimum pension. The alternative method provides for payment of pension based on soldiers' pre war earnings as a civilian. A totally disabled man 18 entitled to receive a pension equal to his pre war earnings up to £2 :10s per week and half of his pre war earnings above £8 10a per week. This gives a man who has earned a good salary before the war a good pension, placing him in rather better position than the salaried man in our army. This scheme is especially good for unmarried'soldiers in England, for it should tie understood that there is no additional pension allowed there for the iwife of disabled soldiers. Sir .Tames Allen lias for some time been taking ouit (comparisons between tllie Now Zealand system and the English, and it is probable that ho will refer to the matter .when next he speaks of pensions in the House. It is very doubtful whether any scheme of differentiation among soldiers according to pre war earnings would be acceptable to New Zealand or the New Zealand Parliament.