N.Z. WAR PENSIONS

Grey River Argus, 26 July 1941, Page 4

N.Z. WAR PENSIONS

Invitation to Claim

NOT EVIDENCE OF CASUALTY.

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, July 25. “There appears to be some misunderstanding of the action of the War Pensions Officers in inviting claims for war pensions from the defendants of soldiers who have been reported missing,” said Hon. F. Jones yesterday, “and some relatives appear to infer that it indicates that further adverse news of a soldier has been received. This is not the case. Invariably, information is furnished to the next-of-kin as soon as it reaches Base Records in Wellington, and before any other Department can obtain it. “It has already been announced that, when a soldier is reported as “missing,” his Army pay and allowances to his dependants continue tor three months from the announcement of the casualty. During the latter part of this period officers ol the Secretary for War Pensions must interview the soldiers’ dependants, and attend to claims which go before the War Pensions Board. This is necessary to ensure the continuity of financial assistance when the Army pay and allowances cease. “If, after pyament of war pension, news is received that a soldier is “not missing,” or “is a prisoner of war,” army pay and allowances are immediately restored, and adjustments are made. “It will be seen that the officers' of the Secretary for War Pensions invite these claims, quite independently of Base Records, and do so to avoid what, otherwise, would mean delays and interruptions in financial aid to the dependants when Army pay and allowances cease at the end of three months.”