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the service of their country, enlisted under circumstances that exclude them from all benefit of our pension statutes. One typical case put to us was that of a young New-Zealander who was temporarily in England when war broke out, and who enlisted with the Imperial Forces at once rather than wait to see if facilities would come later for enlisting with New Zealand troops. Another typical case was that of a member of our New Zealand Forces who volunteered and was accepted for some special service which required him to rank as a unit in the Imperial Forces. Whilst on that service he was wounded and discharged. Each of .these men comes, in consequence, within the scope of the Imperial pension provisions, which are less liberal in amount and somewhat harsh in administration at certain points. There are not many of such cases, and they differ so much that they could only be comprehensively referred to here by including a brief statement of each case. In the nature of things, therefore, no rule of general application to them can be stated, but we strongly recommend that their cases be met by allowing a discretion to Your Excellency's Minister of Defence or Minister for Pensions to grant them the privileges of our Pension Acts on receiving a recommendation to that effect from the Soldiers Civil Re-establishment League. The principle underlying this recommendation is that these men, domiciled New-Zealanders at the outbreak of war, have as great a moral claim on their country as members of the N.Z.E.F., but are excluded from the benefits enjoyed by their brother New-Zealanders because it has been found impracticable to state any rale of general application which will include them. (2) Old-age Pensions. We have, in making certain recommendations under this heading, indicated our opinion that these benefits should be available for New Zealand's ex-service men of the Great War and the South African campaign. We are of opinion that these benefits should be confined to these men : the underlying principle is, in our opinion, the same as in the case of " war pensions," referred to above. (3) Land-settlement and Settlement in Business. Primarily all members of the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces and South African veterans come within this recommendation. We recommend that all ex-service men of the Great War, from any part of the Empire, now settled in the Dominion should also be entitled to the advantages of these provisions, on the principle that if they desire to become New Zealand citizens, and can convince the responsible officers of the League that they have reasonable chances of becoming good farmers or business men, it is in the interests of this country to assist them to that end. (4) Cash and other Advances for Establishment on Land or in Business. Primarily these benefits should ensure to the benefit of members of the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces only, but we recommend that where by previous training and experience, and the possession of some capital, an ex-service man from any part of the Empire offers the prospect of becoming a useful citizen of the Dominion as a farmer or business man there should be a discretion in the League to recommend him for that assistance, and power to grant it on that recommendation. (5) By Vocational Training and Assistance in finding Employment. We recommend that the facilities and activities of the League's officers in these directions should be granted for the help and betterment of all ex-soldiers of the Empire now resident in New Zealand. The underlying principle is that if these men are admitted here to become citizens of New Zealand after having served the Empire as soldiers in the Great War it is due to them and it is also in the interests of this Dominion that they should be assisted in these directions. This kind of assistance if granted to ex Imperial soldiers differs, in our opinion, from that which is comprised in a pension grant, in that it is tendered to its beneficiaries as much in their capacity of adopted citizens as in that of ex-soldiers. Cottage Homes and Veterans' Homes. We view these provisions as being, in their nature, like cash-pension grants, and this would seem to lead to the recommendation that, in so far as the League creates and supervises them, they be available only for those who are eligible for our war pensions. The underlying principle is the same as that set out under the heading of " War Pensions," above. It should be noted, however, that the Rest-homes Act, 1929, could be invoked in

4—H. 39.

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