3

H.—2B

./. That an increase of 75 per cent., subject to the necessary cost-of-living adjustment, should be granted in respect of the present basic pension — (a) To soldiers classed as over 50 per cent, disability, (b) to widows with a child or children, (c) to widowed mothers totally dependent. (a.) This proposal has been given general support, especially from witnesses who know the actual conditions of the soldiers, such as Colonel Mitchell, M.P., Mr. C. W. Batten (formerly Repatriation Officer), and from the secretaries of Patriotic Societies, who have all had wide experience in the employment problem. It has been further supported by Mr. Alexander Gray, K.C., and Mr. Alexander Roberts, as representatives of professional and business circles. It must always be remembered, that, in the great majority of cases, the members of the Pensions Board do not see the applicant for a pension personally at all. A suggested modification of the proposals of the Returned Soldiers' Association was made by the secretaries of Patriotic Societies --viz., that the standard statutory disablement pension should be made £2 10s. per week, but that the supplementary pension should be increased to a maximum of £2. The disabled maximum would thus be increased to £5 10s. per week ; and it has been noted that this is a considerably greater maximum than the Returned Soldiers' Association has asked for. All the witnesses who have given a positive opinion have .supported the Returned Soldiers' Association claim. (6.) The claim for an increase of the pension to a widow with a child or children has been strongly supported by all the witnesses who have given an opinion. Particular weight has been, given by the evidence of Brigadier Hoare (Salvation Army), who can speak from the widest and most intimate experience of the problem of the widow. The Returned Soldiers' Association strongly presses the view that each widow as above is entitled to full increased pension irrespective of her private means. Her loss has been a personal. and economic one. The fact that a few (and the evidence indicates very few) such, widows have independent means should not operate to prevent the automatic grant of an increased pension. 2. That the pension to the widow and child should be continued so long as the child is continuing its education. The reasonableness of this claim is already attested, by the practice of the Pensions Board, for the Commissioner has given his assurance (see Mr. Fache's evidence). It only remains for the practice of the Board to be given statutory recognition, which should provide for pension to cover a university period if necessary. 3. That the pension should be adjusted triennially in accordance with variation in the cost of living. This has been generally supported, particularly in the evidence of the Government Statistician. This system of adjustment is actually in full force in England at the present time. No serious objections have been put forward. The suggestion, however, has been made that the three-year period is too long under present conditions. A definite provision is required to ensure that the pension for physical disability is adequate. The rates fixed by the 1917 Act are, in the opinion of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association, sufficient as minimum rates.