GRATUITIES PAYMENT

Greymouth Evening Star, 10 December 1945, Page 8

GRATUITIES PAYMENT

MR. NASH’S SUMMARY WELLINGTON, Dec. 9. The Minister of Finance (Mr. Nash) said to-day that there had been one or two representations about war gratuities, which suggested there was still some misunderstanding. In particular, it was suggested that moneys due to servicemen and servicewomen could not be drawn without permisision. He said that was not correct. Moneys could be withdrawn at any time after the date of entitlement. He summarised the position as follows: — (1) Gratuities are a gift by the Dominion in recognition of honourable service during the war (regulation 3). (2) Gratuities are at the rate of 2/6 a day for overseas service, and 8d a day for service in New Zealand (regulation 4). (3) The date of entitlement to gratuities is March 31, 1946, for those discharged before that date, and any serviceman or servicewoman can draw money at will from special Post Office Savings Bank accounts after that date (regulation 2 and 9). (4) The balance in each account at the end of each succeeding year to March 31, 1949, will be subject to a bonus of 5 per cent, for each complete year, in addition to the ordinary Savings Bank interest of 21 per cent, (regulation 11). (5) Approved dependants of servicemen and servicewomen who lost their lives will receive a minimum gratuity of £2OO (regulation 6). (6) A permanently totally-disabled serviceman or servicewoman will receive a minimum gratuity of £2OO (regulation 5). (7) Th-e proportionate minimum gratuity will be available to othei' disabled servicemen or servicewomen, according to the degree of disability (regulation 5). (8) Payment for capital and other special purposes approved by the Minister of Defence will qualify a serviceman or servicewoman for 5 per cent, discount (regulation 10). (9) Gratuities, bonuses, and interest are free of all taxation, including social security and national security taxation (regulation 15). (10) Armed service by New Zealanders with other Governments during the war may, under conditions, qualify for gratuities (regulation 7). (11) Each serviceman, servicewoman, or dependant must claim the gratuity on the prescribed form which will be available at all post offices at the end of the year. (12) The regulations will be administered by the Minister of Defence. The gratuities are available to all who have served in the Army, Navy, and Air Force during the present war. “There is nothing more important,” said the Minister, “than that servicemen and servicewoman for their own benefit and for the benefit of the country, should leave the money in the special gratuity accounts till the end of the period, but, in any case, as long as possible.” A detailed explanatory pamphlet would be issued with each application forrn, said Mr. Nash, but anyone requiring further information could . obtain from -his office the full text of the statement which he made to the House of Representatives on November 20, explaining the gratuity regulations.