SOLDIERS’ PENSIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 October 1922, Page 5

SOLDIERS’ PENSIONS.

ANOMALIES POINTED OUT. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Oct. 4. The Commission appointed tp inquire into the working of legislation regarding war oensions is now sitting. The case for the Returned Soldiers’ Association was presented bv Messrs. Smith and Seymour. After dealing with various anomalies in pensions. Mr. Smith said he recognised the great difficulty in arriving at fixed principles for assessment, and contended that each case ought to be dealt with according to a man’s occupation and capacity to work. Pensions should be higher. He mentioned that the number of totally disabled soldiers receiving over £2 weekly was 1749, and of this number 1067 got £3 1-Os. There were also 62*2 totally disabled men receiving not more than £2. The following claims were submitted for consideration by the Commission: (I) An increase of the pensions for the soldier himself, a widow with child or children, and a widowed mother; (2) a widow’s pension not to be reduced if a child is continuing its education, and not earning itself; (3) the principle of the pension rising and falling accordjig to the cost of living on a triennial basis; (4) clothing allowances for limbless men; (5) establishment of a general appeal board; (6) safeguarding the pension of soldiers convicted of an offence, so as to ensure there is no double punishment for the same offence; (7) on the liability of war pensions for incometax; (8) the right of a soldier’s widow to a pension whether he married before of after enlistment; (9) the abolition of the limitation of seven years within which a death due to war injuries must occur to entitle a. widow to a pension.