H.—2B

6

to other than scheduled injuries. An increase of 75 per cent, is asked for in respect of these pensions, irrespective of income, in all cases where the disablement is above 50 per cent. We are deeply impressed with the disabilities in life suffered by such men, even under the most favourable conditions, and this fact was only too painfully apparent in the evidence given. We also fully recognize the merits of the claim to generous and realize that no money payment can adequately compensate for such disabilities incurred in the country's service. The 75 per cent, increase asked for, and all calculations made by the Returned Soldiers' Association, are based on the existing pension for the lowest rank, but the schedule contains a graded scale of pensions according to rank, and any increase made on the basis asked for would presumably have to be applied to the present graded scale throughout the schedule. Furthermore, the claim for the 75 per cent, increase is limited to cases where the disability is over 50 per cent., but there are many cases of men of a less disability who are not adequately provided for and whose condition must be considered from the economic aspect. While we are not primarily concerned with the effect of any increase in the scale of pensions on the State's finances, we cannot disregard the fact that our recommendations, to have value, cannot altogether ignore financial considerations, and would lose value to the extent that they are regarded as financially impracticable ; in other words, we cannot deal with the matter on a pure basis of idealism or abstract justice. It will be interesting to insert here a comparative table of pensions in other countries for total incapacity : —

Comparative Statement of Weekly Pensions payable.

United Statics America. New Zealand. Temporary. Permanent. Canada. Australia. South Great Britain. AWCa ' j <6) ' Statutory, j »<^~ Soldier (private) . . Soldier and wife Soldier, wife, and one child Soldier, wife, and two children Soldier, wife, and three children Additional for each subsequent child Attendant's allowance to disabled soldier (additional) £ s. d. £ '■;. d. 3 16 0 4 15 0 4 5 6 4 15 0 4 10 3 4 15 0 £ s. d. 3 II 3 4 15 0 5 9 3 £ s. d. 2 2 0 3 0 0 3 iO 0 £ s, d. 2 0 0 2 10 0 3 0 0 £ s. d. 2 0 0 2 10 0 2 17 (i £ s. d. 2 1.0 0 3 10 0 4 0 0 £ s. d. 3 10 0 4 10 0 5 0 0 4 15 0 4 15 0 6 0 7 3 17 (i 3 8 4 3 3 (i 4 10 0 5 10 0 4 15 0 4 15 0 6 1.1 1 4 2 0 3 15 10 3 9 6 5 5 0 5 15 0 0 9 li 0 5 0 0 7 6 0 0 0 0 10 0 0 19 0 0 19 0 2 19 4 (7 1 15 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 Widow of soldier (private) (') When reaches age 40 or ( 2 ) with children Widow and one child Widow and two children Widow and three children 2 6 0(d) 1 3 6 I 5 0 I 0 0 1 10 0 2 5 0 Motherless .children of deceased soldiers— . One child 3 a '3 > c_ +H* O a rt o ■43 e_ ! c6 73 6 -p Oh 3 0 4 3 9 11 3 17 7 1 13 0 2 1 0 2 (i 0 1 15 0 2 4 3 2 13 (i 1 6 8(', 2 ) 1 16 8 2 4 2 2 10 2 2 0 0( 2 ) 2 10 0 3 0 0 3 10 0 2 15 0( s ) 3 5 0 3 15 0 4 0 0 1 8 8 Up to Hi, 10s. ; up to 14,12s. 6d.; up to 16, 15s. Double above Treble above I 0 0 0 12 0 0 15 0 Two children 2 7 10 2 0 0 1 8 0 I 10 0 Three children .. 3 3 2 3 0 0 1 14 0 2 8 0 Widowed mother . . Up to 2 6 0(e) 1 0 0 Up to 1 18 0 Up to 0 15 0 0 15 0 to 1 10 0 es for review ■ates in some no widow or (a) Includes 50 p triennially, the first i: instances, (a) Disa d ependent child ren. [It should be not considerable increase i: per cent, bonus. (( in April, 1923. An i ablement pension inc b) Includes ci alternative pi creased to £4 ost-of-iiving ension based. 1. (d) Inc. increase gri on pre-wa hides 20 p< ■anted in 1919, iv income ineri »er cent, bonui , and provide eases these n a. (e) If l >ted, however, that tl in their scale. A cop. ihere is at pr< >y of this Bill esent a Bill has been bofi before tho )re us, and Australian I'l is in the posse arliament pre: sssion of the I oviding for a Department.]