WAR SERVICE GRATUITIES

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24741, 5 December 1945, Page 6

WAR SERVICE GRATUITIES

_ +. - STATEMENT BY OF FINANCE '1

No interest will be paid on war set- >: vice gratuities for the period between' the date of discharge of a serviceman and the date of entitlement to the gratuity, stated the Minister, of Finance (the Hon. W. Nash) in reply to a correspondent to “The Press" who asked for clarification of the matter.

The correspondent .also > asked whether personnel®who had been overseas would receive 8d or '2s 6d a day for periods spent in camps before they went overseas and while awaiting discharge in New Zealand after their return, The rate of 8d a day would bft paid for all service within New Zealand, replied Mr Nash, and all service outside New Zealand would be paid for at the rate of 2s fid a day. Clause 6 of the War Service Gratui-' ties Emergency Regulations, 1945, made provision for the payment, of sums; to dependants or next of kin, of a serviceman killed during the period of his service, stated the Minister. The clause provided that where any member of the forces had died before the date ol his entitlement to a gratuity, the Minister .might in his discretion grant B ■gratuity in accordance with the regulations, or any part of such a gratuity; to, or for the benefit of such dependant or dependants of the member, or suchother person or persons, in such manner, and in such proportions as the Minister thought fit. Where the death of the member was. attributable to his service within or outside New Zealand, or had occurred during his ser- ■ vicq outside New Zealand, the total gratuity that might be granted would be not less than £2OO. Any gratuity granted under the regulation would not form part of the estate of the deceased member.