Mr HECTOR LAMOND (Illawarra) (2:17 AM) . - I agree with all that has been said as to our failure to treat maimed, incapacitated, and blind soldier.'as well as they should, be treated at the hands of the Commonwealth. I do not think, however, that it is best to propose to furnish them with homes under .1 scheme- which would moa a that provision would be made for only some of them. The correct thing to do is to make adequate provision for all. This question has been placed before the Prime Minister (Mr. Hughes) over and over again; and I understand that it is intended to provide a far more adequate pension for men of this class. Blind soldiers should certainly have such a pension as will approximate to what were their average earnings before they enlisted. With such a pension these men would be free to come within or remain outside the scope of the War Service Homes Act.. I think we are making a great mistake in connexion with this free home scheme. We ought to estimate the proper amount to be paid to every returned soldier by way of a return for the sacrifices he has made, and leave him free either to invest or to refrain from investing in this scheme. The continual extension of the War Service homes scheme will make it impossible to do justice at once to any of these classes. While maimed, blind and incapacitated soldiers are waiting for homes to be erected, they will not receive that treatment which ought to be extended to them, and which they would receive if, instead of dealing with them by this means, we were to provide them with an adequate pension.

The same remark will, apply to the case mentioned by the honorable member for Cook (Mr. Catts). I do not think we are doing enough, for the children of soldiers, and particularly for those who are in the care of the widows of soldiers. The ' Commonwealth can make no better investment than that of properly rearing the children of soldiers. We are not making as adequate provision for them as we ought to do. That is one reason why, in regard to those who have the principal claim upon us, I think that some of the money that will not be spent under this scheme for some years should be devoted to' relieving the necessities of cases such as have been mentioned here, and with which every honorable member is familiar. One of the first actions taken by the Government should be to provide the widows of soldiers with adequate means of rearing their families. Apart, altogether,- from the debt that we owe to the widow of the soldier, the upbringing of the children is one of the most urgent needs of the Commonwealth, and we should be happy to undertake the duty. I do not see my way to vote for the amendment, but I certainly shall vote at the earliest opportunity for a thoroughly adequate pension for incapacitated and Blind soldiers, and a reasonable pension for. those who, in connexion with the war, have lost limbs.