PENSIONS AND ALLOWANCES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 4757, 3 January 1918, Page 5

PENSIONS AND ALLOWANCES.

SOME INTERESTING FACTS

It is estimated that the increases in allowances and pensions authorised by Parliament last session and which have just come into operation, will mean an increased State expenditure of £1,252,038 per annum. The liability for pensions at old rates per annum was £937,577, while the new scale is expected to absorb £2,189,615. It is estimated that in September next there will be 25,842 wives, 33,268 children, 334 guardians and a like number of widowed mothers drawing allowances in respect of soldiers serving in the Expeditionary Force. The allowance to wives of soldiers lias been increased from Is per day to 21s per week, for each child instead of 5s 3d there is now given 10s per week, widowed mothers dependent upon a soldier- will now receive 16s 0d weekly instead of 7s, and the widower father will receive the same allowance as a mother under ■ similar circumstances. The pension scheme has also been increased, ancl the differential treatment of private and non-commissioned officers abandoned in favor of a general rate of £2 weekly for total disablement with £1 weekly for the wife.