SOLDIERS' INTERESTS

Evening Star, Issue 15906, 11 September 1915, Page 12

SOLDIERS' INTERESTS

A MINISTERIAL STATEMENT. INFORMATION FOR RELATIVES. [Fsom Oue Pabliamehtar? Repobtee.] WELLINGTON, September 11. Some misconception exists regarding soldiers' wills, and the following statement on the subject by the Hon. A. L. Herdman (Attorney-General) will be of interest:— While on active service any disposition of a soldier's personal property made by a soldier in writing, and signed by him, whether witnessed or not, can be proved as Ms will if the circumstances are explained, and the writing is identified. All wills received by the Defence Department from soldiers serving abroad will be sent on to the Public TTu&t Office for cafe custody. Difficulties about proof of death have disappeared. The Supreme Court has stated that Their Honors are prepared to receive a certificate in the form provided by the Defence Department certifying the authority of the Adjutantgeneral thaE official information has been received at Headquarters that deceased v was killed in action, died of wounds, or otherwise has died on active service. A clause is inserted in the Expeditionary Forces Bill now before the House to facilitate proof of death in the case of a person (not being a member of the Expeditionary Forces) who has died outside New Zealand while on active military or naval service during the present war. In proof of the date or approximate dat<3 of death any Court may accept as sufficient the sworn testimony of any person, by affidavit or otherwise, that on the faith of the official instruction received by him he believes death has occurred. In the matter of administering estates the Public Trustee is able to relieve relations of the trouble and anxietv of administering estates which are under £4OO in value. The Public" Trust Board can reduce office charges when they appear to press unduly upon persons interested in estates. Legislation is being introduced to provide for the exemption of certain estates of soldiers below a certain amount in value from the payment of estate and sue-, cession duties. Insurance companies are. authorised by law to pay over all next of kin monevs payable under life policies up -to £2OO without requiring probate or letters for administration. The Post Office Savings Bank can pay out up to £IOO. Another clause of the proposed legislation sets out that on the death, whether in or beyond New Zealand, of any member of a force to whom any sum of money not exceeding £2OO, may be payable by any person, such person may, without requiring probate or letters of administration, nay such sum to any person who i» proved to his satisfaction to be ent ' :,v in" - to receive same. In proof of death sufficient evidence is a certificate j from the Minister of .Defence. •'