SOLDIERS' WILLS

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 304, 26 December 1939, Page 8

SOLDIERS' WILLS

SPECiefcK P&OWSKBL

EMERGENCY REGULATORS.

EUROPEANS AND MAORIS.

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, Monday.

By the soldiers' wills emergency regulations, 1939, gazetted recently, special provision is made for the making of wills by members of the naval, military and air forces, and also by seamen. The Attorney-General, the Hon. H. G. R. Mason, pointed out this evening that the regulations applied to wills made at any time after the commencement of the present war. While a state of war existed all members of the naval and military forces who were under 21 were authorised to make wills in the ordinary way, as if they were of full age, the Minister said. That provision applied to Maoris as well as Europeans, but Maoris were not entitled to make informal wills, ms Europeans were, while they were soldiers on actual military service or are seamen at sea. "With respect to Europeans the existing law as to informal wills is extended so as to enable airmen to make them as well as soldiers," said Mr. Mason. "To remove any doubt, it is declared that New Zealand soldiers, including airmen shall be deemed to be on actual military service for the purpose of making informal wills at all times while they are outside New Zealand during a state of war. Members of the naval and marine forces are authorised to make informal wills not only when at sea, but when they a; e so circumstanced that if thev were soldiers they would be in actoal military service. "The regulations also provide that informal wills may appoint guardians of infant children as well as dispose of property, and that informal wills of mariners and 6eamen may dispose of real estate as well as personal estate This is already the case with regard to soldiers, including airmen."