THE WAR GRATUITY

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 9, 6 October 1919, Page 4

THE WAR GRATUITY

HINTS TO APPLICANTS. About ten per cent, of the applications made for the wnr gratuity have been informal, and have had to be referred back to the applicants. A brief description of tho methods adopted by the Defence Department in dealing with the applications will enable soldiers to realise the necessity for accuracy in their share of the fask of allocating the millions available for distribution.

lietwoen September 23 and October 1 twenty thousand applications came to tho Pay Office in Wellington. The mere fask of checking and recording is giving n large stuff ample work, but it i; 9 going mi smoothly, and the payments am now being made on the first series of correct claims. Tho fdled-in forms have first to undergo' scrutiny to make sum that this applicant has provided the information required. .Many of the men fail U> give two specimen signatures above the top line of the form, while others give the signatures but write them in tbs blank space below tho proper line, and Ulus interfere with the portion of the form which has to be used as a deposit slip iii connection with tho deposit of the money to the applicant's credit in -si i-'ost Office Savings Bank. The middle <>f the form only lias to be filled in by tho applicant, though many have mistakenly endeavoured to assist the Defence authorities by giving complete details of their service and deductions in (he lower p.-.rtion. This information has io be taken from the ledgers, and not from the applicant's notes. Explanations are often added to the form." covering up space which is needed for office u?e. Jf explanations are considered necessary, a note can be attached to the application form. Anv irregularity means loss of lime in payment, for the applications are given a sevinl number n.{ they are received, and if one has to be referred hack, it may not return until ■several thousand'forms have been passed ahead of it, taking precedence for payment.

Hundreds of letters have been s;nt applying for the difference between Territorial pay and Expeditionary Force pay while, in camp, and also for the retrospective allowance concessions which were annouursd at the same time as the gratuity. The first task-of the pay branch is to deal with the wnr gratuity, but it. is vapidly getting ready for the other distributions. Applications for these allowances, etc., should not be Included on the war gratuity form, but can bo'made by letter, and if the information supplied is sufficiently clear and complete, the payment, will be made in due course. If more information is required, a suitable application form will be sent in response to the letter. Thin will probably' have to be dono in most cases where children's allowance has to be paid retrospectively, as it is important to ensure that the money goes to- the person who has been or is now responsible for the maintenance of the children.