SOLDIERS’ PENSIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 December 1921, Page 4

SOLDIERS’ PENSIONS.

PLEA FOR AN INCREASE. PREMIER PROMISES INQUIRY. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last - Night. • General Sir Andrew Russell, president Mr. D. S. Smith, vice-president, Mr. W. E Leadley (Canterbury), Mr. R. B. Be) (Gisborne), Mr. A. Fair (Wellington), members of the Dominion executive, and Mr. J. Pow (general secretary), repießenting the New Zealand Returned Soldiers* Association, interviewed the Prime Minister and the Minister of Defence this morning in support of the association’s claim for: (1) Increased pensions to heavily incapacitated men and for widows with children and widowed mothers of fallen soldiers; (2) regrading of the present pension schedule and reclassification of pensioners. In the course of a frank reply, in which he carefully traversed the present financial position of the Dominion, and the Govbrnment’s policy in connection therewith, the Prime Minister stated that he would not say one word against the justice of the association’s claims. He indicated that in better times he would probably recommend Cabinet to meet them, and he promised that the re grading and re-classifica-tion asked for would be granted, and that a commission would be set up to investigate and report on the increased pensions asked for. In reply to questions Mr. Massey indicated his agreement that the commission should sit during the recess and report at an early date, and that the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association should be consulted as to personnel.