WAR PENSIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 October 1917, Page 5

WAR PENSIONS.

'ARE THEY ADEQUATBf

STATEMENT BY FINANCE MINISTER

AN ACRIMONIOUS DISCUSSION.

By Telegraph.—Press Association, Wellington, Last Night. On the third reading of the War Pensions Amendment Bill in the House tonight, Mr. Hornsby commented upon the changed attitude of members on the subject of soldiers' pensions after the joint caucus. The day previously hj» aad admitted that the responsibility of iindmg the money to provide increased pensions rested with the Government, but he contended the people were willing to find the money necessary to "ive a wife, whose husband was killed at tho front, a pension of £2 2s, as against 30s ti week as proposed by the Bill. Jf the country was not prepared to pav the men and keep their dependents in de. cenc\, it had no right to ask the mea to go to the front.

-Mr. Witty reminded Mr. Hornsby that lie had attended the caucus and had learned the facts, which had shown him that, much as members would have liked to have made the position more satisfactory for the Second Division, there was a limit. The Bill as it stood was ft generous measure, but the House had a duty to those who remained behind as well as to those who went to the front He agreed that we wore sending too many reinforcements, as we were running great risks in curtailing the production of the country; but justice must be done to the men who had to go and that, he thought, the Bill did. Mr. Forbes contended tirai members had not the fullest opportunity' of indicating to tne Government their desire to raise the pensions at the caucuses Thera was, therefore, no need to vote in the futile division on Mr. Hornsby's amendmom, as the Government plainly inti. mated that the financial position of the Dominion did not warrant the further increase.

Mr. Guthrie contended that anyone who flew in the face of the information given to members at the caucus, was simply endeavoring to build up a structure which, sooner or later, must fajj by virtue of its own weight. If the scheme failed, what would be the disappointment of those recipients who found themselves deprived of that measure of relief they were now receiving? 3lr. Brown, in a brief speech, moved 'an amendment: ''That this House is of opinion that the pensions to widows and soldier- provided in this Act are inadequate." Mr. Massey raised a point, of order that the amendment was irrelevant to the motion that the Bill be read a third time.

The. Speaker said he would take tira» to consider the point and give his ruling later.

Sir Joseph Ward said be had no doubt that all members of the House desired to do their best for the men at the front. but, in view of the great financial responsibilities involved, they could not afford to let their hearts run away with their sense. They should remember that before a single Second Division man leaves the country Parliament woulj be in session, when the position could be reviewed. Indeed, the Avar might be over by then, so there was no immediate need to go to extremes. Our liabilities jin connection with the war were now j approaching £50,000,000, and, in proportion with Britain, our borrowings i amounted to £200,000.000, which illustrated the seriousness of the position, the Government was unable to provide for all this heavy finance. Who, he asked, was going tu suffer most when it conies to that war after the war the commercial war? Undoubtedly it would" bo the men of small means, the man who made a living by the sweat of his brow; but all classes' would suffer more or less. Hence the need of sound Government finance. At present it was our bounden duty to meet our obligations, and to go on doing it to the end- He contended it was impracticable to look to an increase of death duties to find all the revenue necessary. Many.other sources were suggested. The revenue was equally illusory. Our interest charges had increased by over three millions, and in view of the possibility of the war continuing for another vear, when our war expenditure would be £80,000,000, surely this was enough to make sane men stop theorising and recognise there was a point at which the Government cannot afford to yield for the sake of securing popularity.' He was prepared to go as far as anv man In the country to provide liberal pensions, but he was not going to be pushed over the border of safety, and, if necessary, he was not afraid to tell the House and countrj that he would not allow it to be done. The remedy was not, as had been assumed, a general election. Anyone who advocated a general election at the present juncture ought to be hanged. The historian of the future, taking an impartial view of the position and showing a regard for the tremendous financial responsibilities the country had undertaken in connection with the war, would have no hesitation in recording his judgment that the Bill was a generous measure.

On resuming after tlio supper adjournmeat, the Speaker ruled Mr. Brown's amendment was in order. Mr. Tsitt denounced Mr. ITornsbv's speech, and characterised it as Peeksniffian. Mr. Payne argued that the best way to provide the last shilliug was to establish a State bank.

Mr. Hindmarsh asked the Premier if, when a man is taken from his family, that family shall not be compensated to the uttermost farthing, but the man ■whose land was taken for public purposesshall be compensated* Every great re'form was opposed by the Conservatives on the ground that it would ruin the State. That same argument was being used now. it was used last year in connection with pensions, but in spite of it pensions were raised, and yet the State had not been ruined. The truth was that an increase in pensions was being opposed because the taxation necessary to provide them would fail upon property.

Hon. Buddo reminded the House that practically not one penny required by the Bill came from the man earning less than £3OO a year. It, therefore, was fairly clear that property had to bear its share of the cost of pensions, which were by no means as high as he would like, but a 9 high as the country could afford. Mr. Webb declared if men could be taken by force their wealth and property should not be placed in a higher category. If it was the will of the people that hiaher tensions should be paid, then