WAR PENSIONS

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29299, 2 September 1960, Page 12

WAR PENSIONS

Validating BiU Before

House

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, September 1. Increases in war pensions and war veterans’ allowances from April 1, 1960, are validated by a War Pensions Amendment Bill introduced in the House of Representatives today. It also validates the bonus of £6 for single beneficiaries and £l2 for married couples which was given late last year. The bill implements Budget announcements by increasing the maximum rates of economic pensions and the basic rates of war veterans’ allowances and by increasing the allowable income by £1 a week.

The definition of war veteran is extended to include former servicemen who have attained the age of 75 and have served in South Africa as a member of a New Zealand contingent, whether or not they served in action. The term “veteran” is also extended to include former servicemen who have served in the armd forces of other Commonwealth countries. They must comply with substantially the same conditions as apply in the case of a member of the New Zealand armed services, except that the residential qualification is residence in New Zealand for 20 years, uninterrupted except by absences of not more than two years in the aggregate. . The length of absence permissible is lengthened by six months tor every year in excess of 20 years since the date of arrival in New Zealand.

Absence from New Zealand in these cases does not include service in a ship trading to and from New Zealand if during that time the veteran’s family or home was in New Zealand.

From February 1 all war pensions and war veterans’ allowances will be paid four weekly instead of monthly.

Dairy Head’s Death.—Sir Christopher Sheehy, chairman of the Australian Dairy Produce Board, died in Brisbane today. Sir Christopher Sheehy, who was knighted in June, 1959, was aged 65. He leaves a widow and two daughters. He had been ill since February and had been under treatment at a private hospital for eight weeks.—Brisbane, August 31.